She laughed a little knowing that she had confused him because he didn't fire another witty quip at her over her little love bite. As Anna's feet finally touched the ground again she stretched boredly. "I agree with Anya... No more mentioning snogging, my empty love life can't take the reminder." She bounced over to Anna and linked her arm through hers. "I shall escort you like a proper Dhampir Guardian... Novice or not... Mostly because YOU have to tell me how you got Sebastian to heal your booboo. He refuses to heal mine when Gunner beats me up," she pouted.

Sebastian laughed, "That's because you ask for your beatings, so take it like a dhampir and suck it up." He mussed her hair and she glowered at him.

"Yeah yeah... what about that time I twisted by ankle? You refused to heal me then too," she teased.

Sebastian again smiled wryly, "A) You never asked... and B) What were you doing dancing on that table anyway?"

Anna went a little red, "Erm... It was a dare. Jaxon Blake said I never did anything crazy because I was a goody two-shoes wanna be Guardian who was just trying to cover her blood-whore past by joining the Academy." Her eyes flashed angrily at the memory, "Then, I told him to dare me something... anything. He said was a chicken and dared me to do something against the rules in the middle of the lunchroom...I proved him wrong, simple as that."

Seb shook his head, "And got detention and a twisted ankle in the process... Good job Anna."

She punched him in the arm lightly, pulling her punch unlike the way she usually hit Gunner. Sebastian laughed and rubbed at his arm, "That kinda tickled."

She stuck her tongue out at him, "I can't actually hurt you, Gunner would tackle me first and I don't feel like twisting my ankle again."

She glanced at Gunner, "See ya at lunch later... Come on Anya! Let's hit your dorm first."

Anya went a little red when Anna jumped forward and took her arm, before mentioning her 'booboo' and asking how she had managed to get Sebastian to heal it. She glanced at Gunner, who looked lost, he didn't know about her bruise that she had had not to long before. She returned to attention back to Anna and Sebastian and pursed her lips when Sebastian started to list why he hadn't healed Anna's ankle. She rose an eyebrow, "I didn't ask either..."

The two didn't pay much attention to her though before Anna was insisted Anya go with her to her own dorm. She nodded her head, "Alright."

She looked over her shoulder at the two boys and waved, "Bye."
~
Gunner, who had no where to be with no packing to do, looked at Sebastain, "What... booboo?"

He knew he had used it not to long ago when he was talking to Anna, in a joking tone. However, it was far different saying it when completely serious. He sighed again a moment, having a bit of an idea, "We should tell someone... She should stay here during the holidays... She is going to start coming back to us with a lot worse than a few booboos..." Again with the stupid word, "And that isn't going to do you any good if you continually insist on healing her..."

Anna walked with Anya towards the Moroi dorms and carefully took her bag, "Don't argue, I'm the Dhampir, let me do Dhampirly things." She considered for a moment and then spoke again, "So... You and Sebastian. How is that going? Any progress?" She and Anya were good friends and though Anna wasn't very girly Anya was her bestie so they often talked about boys and Sebastian had been a long time discussion between them. "Or is he still all... I'm bad for you, leave me to my wallowing in my self pity," she knew that was a little harsh but the truth was that Sebastian needed a wake up call before he pushed away one of the few chances he had to be happy...

~*~

Sebastian watched the girls go and then glanced at Gunner and sighed, "Another bruise... She wouldn't tell me how it happened and I doubt I want to know. She wouldn't like what I would do to them..." He scratched his head in annoyance and nodded, "I know... I have a plan but convincing Anna not to go home to family over break will be a nightmare... She loves Anya but she loves her family too. I'd see about having you go but I'm not sure the Badica's would enjoy a male novice Dhampir in their home even if you are morally stuck-up," he teased. "They'd still see you as a young man hanging around their beautiful daughter.... Convincing the Badica father to let you in would be impossible and it would make it easier for her mother to say no. Anna is her good friend and female... much easier a case to argue."

Anya walked to the Moroi dorm with Anna, relatively quiet till Anna took her bag. She looked at her and opened to mouth when the girl insisted that she not argue. She shook her head, "Carrying bags isn't a... Dhampirly thing. Protecting is... So unless you are trying to protect me from a back injury, it is hardly a Dhampir duty."

Anna pushed forward in the conversation, ignoring Anya's point, not wanting to hand of the bag, surely. When the conversation turned to Sebastian, Anya sighed, "No progress," She reported. She hesitated a moment after, "Well... He told me that he wasn't going to lie and that he cared about me... and then he went on the whole," She deepened her voice trying to sound more manly, "You've got enough darkness in your life with out me... I'm no good for you," She sighed, her voice returning to normal, "I told him that I would have preferred him to lie to me...."

She laughed a little, "This is like... extreme friend zone. I mean, he knows how a feel, he can see it and... I guess I just wish that he could decide what he wants so I can get over to him or something."

She leaned her head on Anna's shoulder as they walked, "If that is even possible."
~
Gunner stiffened slightly when Sebastian suggested that Anna go with Anya. He shook his head slightly, "If we give her that option, she'll choose Anya and that isn't fair to her," He ran a hand through his hair, "It isn't just that loves them... She deserves a little time to go see them. Doing that is going to be a lot harder when it comes to a real Guardian. We don't get to flint about where ever we choose. We follow the Moroi."

He sighed and crossed his arms, "Maybe we can try to convince her parents to let her stay with Anna... or that it is some kind of extra credit that I'm there with her over the holidays."

He grimaced, "Besides, I don't want Anna anywhere near that woman. Who knows what she'll make up about Anna to get back at her for protecting Anya.... It could ruin her future."

Anna wrapped a free arm around Anya and gave her a comforting squeeze. "Well, that's actually quite a bit of progress when it comes to Seb, you know? I doubt it was easy for him to admit how he feels, even if it was only vaguely... His parents have him so screwed up that I doubt he thinks he is good enough for anyone, much less someone he actually cares about."

She paused outside the door to the dorms and gave Anya a smile, "Relax, you have all year to try and bring him over to your line of thinking and look at you... who could resist? You're beautiful Anya, anyone would have to be crazy not to see it."

She ruffled her friend's hair playfully and gave her another squeeze before letting her go, "Alright let's get this stuff to your room." She opened the door for them and headed inside and looked at the room numbers before heading to the one assigned to Anya.

~*~

Sebastian arched a brow and couldn't help but point out how protective Gunner had just sounded, "And it couldn't ruin you?"

He shook his head, "I knew it wasn't a great idea but I'm scared for her... It seems to get worse every year."

He sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't throw you and Anna out there without even asking first... Maybe if Guardian Belikov backed you..."

Sebastian shrugged tiredly, "We have till the holidays to figure it out but let's not say anything to Anya... She'd refuse help if she knew anything about it."

Anya leaned into Anna when she wrapped her arm around her, comforting her. She sighed, "I know... But... I don't think he gets that I want to help him as much as he wants to help men... and he refuses to let me do that."

She blushed when Anna called her beautiful and walked into the dorm building behind her. She fixed her hair as she followed Anna to her room. Walking up to it, she opened the door and smiled, it was good to be back at the Academy. She took her bag from Anna and claimed the empty bed. She sat down on it and looked at her friend, "Do you really think... that he'll come around?"
~
Gunner smirked slightly when Sebastian made comment to it possibly ruining him, "I'm morally stuck up. By graduation, that would be my only black mark. With Anna, who knows how many she'd have," He chuckled a little, "Besides, I'd protect Anya, Anna would probably run her mouth of at her evil step mother."

He wrapped an arm around Sebastian and picked up his bag over him, "Don't worry. We'll figure it out... Maybe I'll talk to Guardian Belikov, see if I can go with her over Christmas. But... we'd have to tell him why... And the truth, otherwise, I'd be here..."

When Sebastian decided not to tell Anya, he nodded, "We should keep it from Anna too. The easiest option is her going with Anya and I don't want that to be an option."

Anna nodded, "Of course, he's an ass sometimes but he's not blind and he does have feelings for you. It's only a matter of time. He can't stay away from you as it is."

She glanced at the clock, "Well, I better hurry up and get MY stuff unpacked. It won't be long till the bell rings."

She gave Anya a hug, "Hang in there girly."

She headed out of the room and back across the courtyard before entering her room in the dorms and unpacking.

~*~

Sebastian nodded, "I know how she is and you're right, she'd jump on that option in a heartbeat and forget about herself. She's a good friend, she'll be an excellent guardian, but I worry she'll completely forget herself in the process of becoming one."

He sighed, "Lets head to your dorms first, there is no one in mine that I'm going to want to see."

Sebastian thought a moment as they walked and then brought up something he would never dare to around Anna. "I don't really like her going back to the commune... I know her family is there but when she comes back... I've seen her aura... It's like she's forcing herself to seem happy but really there's something wrong." He frowned, "And then, last year when Rae was teasing her...." He rubbed the back of his neck, he wasn't sure he should be telling anyone this... even Gunner.

"Nevermind... I just think that maybe she's not as okay as she seems either... Which honestly is another reason her going to Anya's would be a bad idea. I don't think she'd have a problem actually hurting a Moroi who hurt Anya is all..."

Anya laughed a little, "I didn't ask you to come here," However, she loved that she did.

She wrapped her arms around Anna when she hugged her. She nodded, "I will."

Then Anna left and Anya turned to her things and started to unpack. She sighed as she did. Being alone always left her to her own thoughts.
~
Gunner looked at Sebastian, "Seb... My things have been set up for the last two months."

He shook his head and walked back to his own dorm. He sighed when Sebastian started to tell him something before bailing on it, "You know, I hate when you do that."

He smiled at his friend, "Maybe... invite her somewhere... Or if I do get to go with Anya have Anya do it. All of us meet somewhere in the middle of the summer.... That way Anna gets out of there sooner. No matter what kind of face she is putting on, she loves her family... It is the Moroi she hates."

Gunner luckily never had to go through with anything like that with his mother. He wasn't fully sure if Anna did. They didn't talk much about what happened in the commune. He smirked at Sebastian, "I don't think you would either. I wouldn't have much of a problem... but I have restraint and foresight."

Seb shook his head, "Ah... yeah, right. I forget sometimes that you stay here while the rest of us are away."

He smiled wryly at Gunner's reminder that he hated it when Seb was vague, "I know... I think that would be a good idea though, for all of us. You being cooped up here isn't good for you, Anya's family isn't for her, same for me, and Anna loves her family but I think the commune is just bad for her."

He nodded, "I'm surprised she came around to liking Anya and I at all... When we first met her she was so... distant... standoffish."

"Anyway, while we're headed this way... lets talk to Guardian Belikov and see if we can beg him to give you Anya... It'll make talking him into sending you home with her at the end of the year much easier."

~*~Skip to Next Day?~*~

Gunner woke in his bed the next morning and immediately stood. It was early, as in a couple hours before the rest of the campus, he was a bit of an early riser. He walked over to his dresser and quickly changed before making his way down the steps and waving to the Guardian on duty. They had gotten used to this over the years. He ran casually around the school before he'd pick up speed until he was just sprinting. Both for his speed and endurance, things he sucked at and caused him to slow and catch his breath until finally, he returned to his dorm. He hopped into the shower, redressed and walked back to the steps as the rest of the school started to wake.

He saw the tired eyes of his fellow classmates but he was wide awake. He walked to the girls' dorm and leaned against the wall as he waited for Anna to come out.
~
Anya rolled over in her bed and turned off her alarm clock. She yawn, covering her eyes with her arm for a moment before she climbed out of bed. She got dressed for the day before she stood in front of her mirror. Anya was never one for caking on make-up, simple and subtle. Once she finished, she played around with her hair. There weren't any more bruises to hide after all. She finally decided on just pinning the strand of hair that always fell into her face back and left her room. She looked around as she walked through the halls, things on the high school campus were so different from the elementary one. She held her hands in front of her as she walked, looking around, seeing if Sebastian or the others were anywhere to be seen.

As Anya stepped out the laughter of several girls in the hall would drift to her and if she looked she'd see her sister standing among them. Jenna glanced up to see Anya walking down the hall, "Speak of the troll and she shall appear."

Jenna thought she was much more clever than she actually was, a kindergartener could have come up with that line. When she noticed that Anya's bruise had heal she sneered, "Had your little no account lover-boy heal up your face huh? Can't blame you, that face needs all the help it can get."

Sebastian had just rounded the corner and his eyes went dark, his hands slipping into his pockets in an almost casual way as he leaned down by Jenna's ear as he came up behind her. "Jealous are you? You know, I could give you better things to do with that mouth than torment your sister..."

Jenna's eyes went to Sebastian's face as she whirled around like she'd been caught on fire, but she took the bait obviously thinking he was actually flirting... But Anya would know him well enough to know that he'd gone to that dark place that left him cruel and unpredictable. "Want me to show you?"

Again Jenna was stupid enough to take the bait and actually leaned up on her tiptoes, her hands resting on Sebastian's shoulders, probably expecting him to kiss her... "Mmhm," she smiled. Maybe part of it was the compulsion that sometimes took over when he was at his most charming, not something he did on purpose but it served him fine just now.

He smiled darkly back at her, "How about this..."

Suddenly, Jenna was screaming and Sebastian sneered at her. "Put your hands on her again and I'll make sure you see roaches and bugs crawling out of every orifice you own just like this for weeks until you're begging her to tell me to stop. Understand?"

Jenna nodded, her wails becoming sobs as whatever Sebastian had done stopped as quickly as it had started. His hands were shaking and he had to take a few steps back to keep from actually harming her. With another look of disgust he glanced at Anya and seemed to come back to himself... For a moment he looked completely shattered, her seeing him like that was exactly what he'd been hoping to avoid... Now she'd seen the monster he'd been trying to hide... The one Anna had only seen once before and the one Gunner had had to knock out to make it stop... He'd turned on a Moroi boy who'd been grabbing Anna, she'd told him to stop multiple times but he hadn't cared and Anna had been getting more and more upset because she'd been unable to do anything about it at the time because they were in assigned seats on the bus headed for a field trip. Sebastian had caught the kid the minute he'd stepped off the bus and compulsed the kid to follow as he'd headed to the boys restrooms... Anna had heard Gunner yelling when Gunner had caught him pushing compulsion on the kid to have him claw his own face into bloody ribbons. He probably wouldn't have been able to stop himself but Gunner had knocked him out... thankfully. They'd never talked about it again because after that Seb had went into such a deep depression that the nurse had had to medicate him... and he'd been like a zombie for a month and a half.

He took a step away from Anya and then walked brusquely away... He didn't want to face what he'd just done right now. He needed to... to... In his pocket, where he'd stuffed his hands, his palm was already bleeding where the razor blade cut into his skin when he'd gripped it to make himself stop.... Now, he wanted to use it for a different reason. The pain would distract him, help him think about something else... something other than the look on Anya's face when he'd compelled her sister.

He felt like he was spiraling out of control and probably wouldn't even have noticed if Anya had followed... He was too locked in guilt, self loathing, and remorse as Spirit caught him in its grasp and refused to let go.

~*~

Anna had not slept well, her mind was on her family... specifically her younger sister. She'd met a Moroi boy in her school and she liked him... Only, Anna knew the only thing that would come out of that. She had put on her headset and listened to music while she'd written... Anna didn't tell anyone, not Sebastian or Gunner... or even Anya... But she liked to write, poetry and the like. It was her one girly thing aside from her hair but the things she wrote were personal and not something she wanted to share. She was stunned when she looked up and realized that it was morning already. Quickly, she jumped in the showers. She didn't have time to dry or style her hair, not that she ever styled it anyway, and only put on enough makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes and make her look like a normal living being again.

Trotting out the girls dorm door, still drying her hair with a towel, she spotted Gunner and sheepishly stuffed the damp towel in her gym bag. "How is it you always manage to look like you're wide awake this early in the morning." She yawned, covering it with her hand and then gave a miserable groan as she went to stand by him and dropped her head tiredly onto his shoulder. "Damn insomnia... I didn't sleep a wink."

Anya stepped out of the dorm and flinched when she heard Jenna. She was slightly starting to regret pulling the strands of hair back. Maybe she wouldn't have noticed that the bruise was gone. She didn't say anything to her, both because she had nothing to say and Sebastian was already talking to her. Her eyes widened and she found herself biting her lip. She didn't like the look on Sebastian's face, it was dark and not like the Sebastian she knew. She held her hands to her chest and winced when Jenna started to scream, Sebastian threatening her further.

Then, he turned and left. He had only stolen a glance at Anya but seemed to see no reason to stay. She looked at Jenna, whose friends where asking her if she was okay. Even after everything she did to her, she was slightly worried about her sister.

She looked up to see Sebastian stalking off and chased after her. After calling his name, she realized he was not going to stop for her. Finally, she managed to catch him and grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop and forcing him to turn to her. She looked up at him, "Sebastian... Are you okay?" She wasn't going to mention what had happened but she was worried. It had been Spirit induced, was the spirit worse than he dare tell her. Was this normal? Could she help?
~
Gunner spotted Anna and was about to move off the wall when she joined him. He chuckled a little when she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and yawning. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her, "Don't fall asleep on me. Otherwise, I'm really going to kick your ass in Belikov's class."

He grinned at her, "Besides, I didn't just pull myself out of bed. I've been up for the last couple hours," He shrugged as though it weren't a big deal, "Ran around the school. Trying to build up my speed and endurance," He pulled her away from the wall and towards the cafeteria, "You'd better start to worry. Since your speed is the only thing you've got going for you."

He guided her to the building, looking around for Anya and Sebastian. However, neither of them were in sight. He wondered if they went to the feeders before they planned on meeting with them.

He hadn't heard her calling, he'd been too wrapped up in finding somewhere to be alone so he could-

She caught his arm and pulled him to a stop, he turned to her... His grey green eyes dull and empty looking almost. He was hiding behind his walls again, a mask of carelessness in place, but for someone that knew him it would be easy to see how tired he looked and the emptiness in his eyes... like he was lost somewhere in his own mind. His hand stung, the deep cut reminding him he was still there underneath the feeling of drowning in his own hopelessness. He deserved it, he knew what using Spirit in a dark way could do... especially when he so rarely used it at all. He realized, belatedly, that when she'd pulled on his arm it had pulled his still bleeding hand from his pocket... along with the razor blade which had fallen to the ground. The crimson liquid dripping thickly from his palm made tracks down his fingers in a way that held his attention for a moment... the insanity gnawing at him before he looked back at Anya.

"Where am I?" He really wasn't sure, he'd been walking on auto-pilot but seeing her face broke through the haze a little bit. He blinked, seemingly coming out of whatever dark place he'd been sinking into... but it was only momentary. He knew he'd sink again the moment he was left alone. "Shit... you shouldn't have followed me. I don't know what I'll do when I'm like this... Hell, I barely know who I am..."

His hands were shaking, the blood still dripping from his fingertips on his left hand. At least it was the left... he wrote with his right. He wouldn't get behind on his school work... with that oddly illogical thought he felt slightly dizzy and sick. "I need to..." He leaned against the tree next to him and broke out into a cold sweat. Maybe he would come out of this more quickly than usual, the storm clouds were already parting which was leaving him with the after affect of channeling so much darkness. "I'm sorry," he said grimly. "I heard her picking on you and I remembered the bruise and I don't even remember most of what I said... Sometimes, when I get really angry, I lose it. I've only done it once before but I almost made a kid claw his own face off for putting his hands on Anna. Gunner had to knock me out to make me stop, sometimes I can't stop..."

He looked tortured, he hated the things he did... hated what using the magic did to him... but he was too selfish to take the pills to cut him off from it. Why couldn't he have wielded a normal magic? "I never wanted you to see me like that..."

~*~

Anna sighed, "The way I feel... you already did." She stretched and straightened up before laughing at him and joking, "You have a ways to go before you catch up with my lightning quick skills."

Still, he was right. She needed to train hard so she could keep up with him, and her speed really was the one thing she had up on him. He was bigger, stronger, and had a longer reach... if he outmatched her in speed she'd be in big trouble... not that she wasn't already.

She frowned, "Huh... I'm sure they'll meet us when they're ready. Right now, I'm starved. Let's hit breakfast."

Anya looked up at Sebastian, worried. She glanced around when he asked where they were, "Looks like we are between the two Moroi dorms."

When he swore and told her that she should not have followed him, she shook her head, "No. That is exactly why I should have... You are dangerous to yourself..."

She took his bleeding hand and bit her lip, never had she wished that she had Spirit, not until she saw the dark cut in Sebastian's hand. She grabbed a tiny little first aid kit that she kept in her bag and quickly started to clean the cut, holding his hand as still as possible. She stumbled a little when he leaned back against the tree, not having expected the movement. She shook her head, "It's okay... You are right. You lost it, but that was because of the Spirit, not you. It's okay Sebastian."

She gave him a small smile as she wrapped his hand in gauze, "If I can see you at your worst... I don't deserve to see you at your best," She gave another smile before looking down and focusing on his hand.
~
Gunner laughed, "I did, didn't I," he looked down at her, "I wouldn't say, lightning quick," he teased.

Of course, she was fast and smaller than him, allowing her to allude him easier than a taller, slower target could. It was one of the reasons he was excited to work with her. Strigoi were far faster than either of them and if he couldn't catch Anna, he was doomed in the field.

He nodded when she suggested that they go get breakfast and walked into the building. He dropped his arm from around her when they reached the line. Quickly, he grabbed an apple and placed it on his tray before looking at the rest of the food.

As she doctored his hand he watched with a morbid fascination, "But it is me Anya... Spirit is part of me. I think it just amplifies what's already there..."

As she spoke her next words he looked at her carefully, "You still want to be around me after that?" He rubbed the back of his neck with his good hand. "My best... I don't know what that is." He smiled at her somewhat, "But for you... I'll try."

He dropped his hand once she was done bandaging it and glanced at the school, "Anna and Gunner will wonder where we are... They're in the cafeteria by now."

~*~

Anna shook her head as Gunner grabbed another apple and she debated over her choices before deciding on the spaghetti, even though she knew the sauce would be bland and the meat a mystery. She took a seat at the table, brooding over the days classes... The first half was boring. It was your usual classes, history etc... just Moroi based instead of human. The second half which came after lunch was what she was looking forward to.

"You think Guardian Belikov will be as good as everyone says?"

Anya looked at him and shook her head, as she released his hand, "You aren't getting rid of me that easily, Sebastian. Besides, as... Scary as it was... You had good intentions..."

She put her things back into her bag and smiled at him, "The spirit may be you but like you said, it amplifies. You would never have gone that... ballistic on Jenna if you didn't have Spirit. So in a way it is both you and not you," She laughed and shook her head again, "I'm starting to confuse myself,"

When he mentioned Anna and Gunner, she nodded, "I'm sure they are..." She stood there a moment longer, taking Sebastian in before she turned away and toward the cafeteria. She looked over her shoulder at him, "Well, come on," She brushed a stray hair out of her face and glanced at him, "Do you want to stop by the feeders first?"
~
Gunner piled a meal of relatively healthy selections onto his tray and followed Anna to their table. He sat down next to her and picked up his apple. As she spoke, he bit into it. He pondered her question before shrugging, "I don't know... I think so. I mean, he was trained by Guardian Belikov and Guardian Hathaway... Who are two of the best Guardians out there. Not to mention Guardian Rose Hathaway is Guardian Janine Hathaway's daughter, another amazing Guardian. I think he'd have to be pretty horrible not to be amazing with those mentors."

He pursed his lips, "Then again, you know how much Moroi love to embellish."

Sebastian took her hand in his good hand as they walked, "I think it's cute when you confuse yourself..."

As they walked he considered it, "Mm... I think maybe it was the use of Spirit but... maybe we should go to the Feeders first. Anna and Gunner can wait."

As they walked into the feeders Sebastian signed them up and took a seat beside her as they waited. "I'm glad I didn't scare you away... though maybe I should have."

~*~

Anna took a seat beside him, picking at her food... She was hungry but she hadn't really liked any of the options today.

She shook her head, "No, I've seen Rose fight... even if it was just a demonstration at the Commune it was still seriously impressive. If he had both she and her mentor as teachers then you're right... There's probably no way he isn't awesome. Plus, I hear he has the Battle mark from when he went with the other elites and hunted down Strigoi close to the school to keep it safe here..."

She considered a moment, "Though... you're right. That last bit might just be rumor. Moroi do like to gossip..."

Anya felt her heart flutter a little when she felt Sebastian's hand holding hers. She looked at him as they walked to the feeders and allowed him to sign them up before taking a seat. She frowned slightly when he spoke though. She shook her head and removed her hand from his, "I can't... You need to make a decision, Sebastian... You either like me or you don't. You know how I feel... so... Just stop... toying with me."

It killed her to say any of that to him. She knew what he'd choose and as much as it hurt that he'd flirt with her one moment and push her away the next, she didn't want the flirting to stop. The times when it felt like they were a couple. The lady at the desk called her name and she stood. She looked over her shoulder once at Sebastian as she walked into the small curtained room.
~
Gunner bit into his apple again and pondered the second rumor that she presented to him. Finally, he shook his head, "I don't think he is old enough to be one of the elite that went after the Strigoi... Guardian Hathaway's year were the only ones allowed to go and even they were a select few... But he does have Molnija marks. I've seen them. He apparently got them at a pretty young age."

Gunner wasn't sure how he felt about molnija marks. After all, it was pretty cool to know you were strong enough to take down a Strigoi... But he didn't think there was any shame in protecting your ward and never receiving a mark. That meant you kept them safe and completely out of harm's way. He shrugged, "Maybe if you ask nicely, he'll tell you. Of course, you'd have to use the magic words."

Sebastian felt like she'd dumped cold water on him and he'd released her hand immediately. He had felt like he was making progress, like maybe he'd be able to be with her after all and then... He didn't say a word, instead his eyes had gone dark and shielded. He nodded to her as she went to the feeders and moved to another curtain. He ate but left directly afterwards, he didn't wait and he didn't go to the lunchroom. He headed back through the courtyard and into the woods. There was a small clearing by the small spring that fed the lake... He spent a lot of time there before he'd met Anna and along with Anna had come Gunner and then Anya... He stood by the spring a moment before he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

It was against the rules to smoke on campus but when had he ever really cared about the rules... He laid back on the rock nearby and stared up at the sky, not really willing to think beyond the taste of nicotine in his mouth and the burn of the cut healing on his hand. He unbandaged it and stared at it momentarily, it was already healing. His self-destructive cloud came back to haunt him and he pressed the cig into the cut, cauterizing it. He barely even felt the pain and there was none of the usual urge to continue inflicting pain... He was just... empty at the moment. Probably still deciding what to do with his emotions since they didn't seem to know either...

~*~

Anna chuckled, "The magic words huh? You know I don't know any of those."

She frowned, "Where are those two? Classes are going to start soon and I haven't seen either of them. They were supposed to meet us since you got Anya as a ward and I got Seb... He said they would..."

She pushed the food away and stood, "Maybe I should check at the feeders."

Anya stepped out of the feeders and looked around to find Sebastian no where to be found. She walked over to the receptionist and double checked that he wasn't still in one of the rooms. When she told her that he'd already left, Anya felt a small stinging sensation in her eye. She shouldn't have said it. Any of it but... She was done with going back to the dorm and crying because Sebastian would be sweet all day and then leave her with but we can't actually be together.

She tried to keep the tears at bay as she walked into the lunchroom to find Gunner and Anna.
~
Gunner nodded, "You eat, I'll look," He stood as well and was about to head to the feeder's when he spotted Anya. He smiled and walked over to her, "Good morning-" He words ran short as he saw Anya's face. He gently took her shoulders and pushed her toward Anna, "Anna! I don't know how to deal with.... this."

Anya looked at Anna and sunk into one of the chairs and buried her face in her arms, "I'm stupid..."

Gunner just looked between the two girls, bewildered. He was completely and entirely unsure of what he was supposed to do.