"Nice to meet you, Rose Hathaway" I said as I held out my hand. she hesitated then shook my hand "Adrian Ivashkov" I told her. "and you think I'm trouble?"she muttered. so , she's heard of me , I thought. probably cause I was from a wealthy royal family. I laughed and said "handy huh? Each of our reputation precedes us"
"You don't know anything about me and I only know of your family I don't know anything about you."she said proudly.
"Want to? "I asked tauntingly
"Sorry, I'm not into older guys"
"I'm 21 not that much older"
"I have a boyfriend" she lied. I could see it in her face even if she did have one she wasn't happy in the relationship, I could tell. "Funny you didn't mention that right away" I Said jokingly "he didn't give you that black eye , did he?" she was blushing even in the cold I could tell she didn't want to talk about a blackeye but I saw it as soon as she came onto the porch."he wouldn't be alive if he did. I got it during...practice. I mean I'm trying to be a guardian our classes are always rough."
"That's pretty hot"I said , really hot maybe even sexy I thought. I was nervous again so I stomped out my cigarette with my foot
"Punching me in the eye?" She asked
"Well no of course not I mean the idea of getting rough with you is hot .im a big fan of full contact sports"
"I'm sure you are "she said dryly

I bet she thought I was rude and arrogant ... Maybe I kinda was but I didn't want rose to see me that way I could tell she was different than all the other girls I've been with.
Footsteps made me look to my right
"Hey Mia" rose said to a tiny short haired Moroi girl she was cute but looked nothing like rose. she glaced at us "another guy?" She asked she clearly was referring to roses boyfriend, maybe he was real. "Yeah this is Adrian Ivashkov." rose said
"Always a pleasure to meet a friend of roses especially a pretty one." I said trying to sweet talk the doll sized girl. "we aren't friends" rose said
"Rose only hangs out with guys and psychopaths"Mia said she was feisty... I admired that. "well" I said happily "since I am both a psychopath and a guy that would explain why were such good friends."
"You and I aren't friends either"she said harshly. it stung alittle only because I wanted rose but for some odd reason she didn't want me.. that never happened. "Always playing hard to get,huh?" I said with one my most attractive laughs "she's not that hard to get" Mia said , she was Jealous obviously, sounds like Mia always came second compared to rose and Vasilisa.
"Yeah and you can ask the other half about mia if you can do a favor for her she did lots of favors for you" rose said. oooooh that was harsh. Mia wasn't offended tho she kept at it with another smart ass comment "well at least I don't do them for free." I made some cat noises , this was the most amusing thing to happen to me since I came on this "vacation". my whole life was a vacation. "are you done it's past your bedtime the grownups would like to talk now" rose said . Mia did look like a elementary school kelly Barbie doll but rose was being a bitch... I liked that. "sure " Mia said her cheeks were blushing and she looked angry "I have better things to do anyway" she looked at me like she's going to say something bitchy " her mom gave her that black eye you know" wow didn't expect that. she then went inside. me and rose stood in silence then the silence because too much and I pulled out another cig "your mom?"
"Shut up"
"You're one of those people who either has soulmates or mortal enemies, aren't you? No in between. you and Vasilisa Are probably like sisters, huh?" I said
" I guess"
"How is she?"I asked
" Huh ? What do u mean " she questioned. rose was hard to figure out but one thing I knew was that she loves Vasilisa
" I don't know I mean I know you guys ran away. And there was that stuff with her family and Victor Dashkov ."
She became stiff "so?"
"Don't know. I just figured it might be a lot for her to, you know, handle" I tried to sound thoughtful and sweet because I actruly did care for Lissa we where Family, Kind of. While we were both royal families that has to count for something, I felt sympathy for her ,she lost her family.
Rose began to study me wondering what I was getting I at . "I've got to go" said she's trying to avoid the conversation "are you sure " I asked trying not to sound too disappointed. I liked talking to rose I could also tell he was intrigued by me. " I thought it was time for the grown-ups to talk ... there's lots of grown-up things I'd like to talk about" I Said in a flirty voice.
"It's late, and I'm tired, and your cigarettes are giving me a headache" she growled. Um okay I guess she didn't find me THAT intriguing.
"I suppose that's fair" I said I took another drag "some women think they make me look sexy." I said seductively
"I think you smoke so you have something to do when your thinking up your next witty line." she said fiercely
I laughed And doing that choked on the smoke that surrounded me. I couldn't stop laughing and choking I finally calmed myself enough to say "Rose Hathaway, I can't wait to see you again. If you're this charming tired and annoyed and this gorgeous bruised and in ski clothes you must be devastating at your peak."
"If by devastating you mean that you should fear for your life, yeah. You're right." she opened the door and then turned back to me "good night Adrian"
"I'll see you again" I said with a little hope and wonder in my voice
"Not likely I told you I'm not into older guys" she said sassily. she walked into the lodge as the door closed I called to her "sure you aren't"