Chapter 1

A/N: This is my second attempt at a VA story and I really, really hope people like it. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: All rights belong to the wonderful and talented Richelle Mead and Rachel Higginson (Star-Crossed Series)

Rose POV:

"Mom!" I called when I got in the house.

I walked into the kitchen to see my mother and my grandfather, Amory, in deep discussion. Ever since we moved to Montana, they've been hiding something from me. I know they have. But it was always "Rose, it's nothing" or "Rose, focus on school." Blah, blah, blah. It was like they didn't trust me or something. My mother worked at a law firm with her "friend" Sam. She had the hots for him but won't admit it. And Amory was the principal of my school, St. Vladmir's Academy, where I went with my best friends: Alison, Eddie, and Mason.

"What's going on?" I asked, slowly.

My mother looked at Amory and he nodded at her. I hated when they did this. It made everything seem so dramatic. You could ask anyone and they would tell you I hated drama. I did like action and fights, though.

"Your grandfather and I were discussing what would be best for your safety," Mom started, wringing her hands, nervously.

I dropped my bag on one of the chairs at the kitchen table. We lived in a three-story, old fashioned house. The attic was my bedroom and sanctuary. If I wasn't anywhere else, I was there. It was the only place I could go by myself.

"My safety?" I raised both my eyesbrows, folding my arms aross my chest. "My safety from what?"

"That isn't important," she countered, easily deflecting my question. "What's important is that...we've hired a...bodyguard to watch over you."

As usual, I didn't think before I spoke,

"You have got to be fucking kidding me! A bodyguard? Are you crazy? I don't need anyone to protect me!"

"Rosemarie," Amory snapped and I immediate closed my mouth; no one and I mean no one disrespects Amory. "You will not speak to your mother in that tone. I understand that you don't know what this person will be protecting you from but you are going to accept them with open arms because it is what's best for you. Do you understand me?"

I sighed and mumbled, bitterly,

"Yes, sir."

"Good," he said.

I grabbed my jacket and car keys before asking, with a slight hint of sarcasm in my voice,

"May I go out to eat pizza with my friends or do I need a bodyguard for that, as well?"

Okay, maybe there was more than a hint of sarcasm in my voice but if you knew me, you knew that I didn't take people treating me like a damsel in distress so well. Once Mom nodded, I walked out and pulled my jacket on. I was used to protecting myself. Sometimes I had to be the adult. I loved Mom, I did but...she was sort of fragile. I had no idea what happened to her. Amory was the strongest person in my life. And my father wasn't in the picture, so that counted him out. If I ever did meet him one day, that meeting would end up with him walking away with broken bones. People might say I had abandonment issues but I didn't know my father well enough to be hurt by his leaving us so, therefore, I hated when people said that .

"Who pissed you off, Rosie?" Mason asked, jokingly, as I slid into our usual booth at Jack's Pizzeria.

Montana wasn't that big when you've grown up in the same place all your life. You start seeing the same people everyday and going to the same places so there was no surprises anymore. Sighing in frustration, I grabbed a slice of buffalo chicken pizza and bit off a huge piece.

"My mom and Amory think I need security," I said, once I swallowed.

"You?" Ali asked with mock surprise, her eyes widening. "Don't they know no one can take on the big bad Hathaway?"

I rolled my eyes and Mason and Eddie laughed. The four of us had been friends since kindergarten. I wasn't like every other girl. Sure, I liked shopping and all that but I also hung out like one of the guys. Hell, I ate more food than Eddie and Mason combined. Ali, however, was the best girl friend I could ever have. She might seem sweet to everyone else but she was also a total badass when she had to be. Her and Eddie have been dating since 9th grade. We were in 11th. I've had boyfriends but none of them were long-term. Usually, they thought that I would just be another notch on their bedpost but I was still a virgin. With the way I flirted, people thought I lost the v-card years ago.

"Haha. I'm serious! They won't tell me what they're protecting me from and I am seriously starting to think both of them are mentally unstable," I said, lowering my voice so I wouldn't be overheard.

They just smiled and shook their heads but I understood why. This was my typical Rose behavior. The three of them were used to it by now.

"Rose, maybe there is actually something they want to protect you from that they can't tell you about. You can't blame them for actually caring about your well-being," Eddie reminded me, always being the "voice of reason".

I knew he was right. Sometimes, I gave my mom hell over things she had no control over. She could've got rid of me whenever she wanted to but she didn't. And neither did Amory.

"Moving onto other things. You have to get a date for the dance," Ali insisted.

"We are going as a group. I'm not going with a guy from school because then they'll think it will be fine to take me into a bathroom and screw me," I countered, grabbing my third slice of pizza.

Ali rolled her eyes,

"You are so vulgar sometimes. Not every guy thinks about sex."

Edie and Mason snorted before saying in unison,

"Yes, we do."

"You guys make me cry myself to sleep at night sometimes," Ali said, shaking her head and slapping a hand to her forehead. "I am just saying...it's okay to like a guy. It doesn't mean you have to have a committed relationship. Eddie and I knew each other for 9 years before he finally grew the balls to ask me out."

"I always had balls," scoffed Eddie.

I scrunched my nose up in disgust, "Okay, eww. You're like a brother to me. I don't want to hear about you having balls."

Ali started laughing but then she suddenly stopped as her eyes widened and her jaw dropped,

"That is one sexy man."

I followed her gaze and I couldn't help but think:

She is so right .

Okay, so as you guys can tell Lissa is not in here. I'm not really a big fan of her but I really, really hope you guys like anyway. Please, please review. Rose meets Dimitri next chapter. ;-)

Rose xoxo