Serena walked Anna back to her dorm, a little happy for the silence. When they reached Anna's room, she helped her into bed. As she pulled back the girl's blankets, she spoke to her. Serena frowned slightly, why was she telling her this? Was it that obvious that the girl's words hard bothered her? She gave Anna a small smile and nodded, she was glad that she could help Sebastian. She was a little taken back by Anna's comment about her being glad that she came, but smiled a little anyways. Then Anna was asleep. Serena shook her head and pulled the blanket up and over her, tucking her in.

She looked around, Niya wasn't back, Serena was curious if she was back at the party. She turned off Anna's light and left the room, sneaking back out the building. She didn't want to go to her room, that allowed her to be completely consumed by her thoughts. Out here, there was a little more to see. A little more to distract her. She sat down at the front of the building and sighed, leaning against the wall. She bit her lip as she watched a few people leaving their parties and heading back to their dorms or someone else's. She pulled her legs into herself and realized that she left her shoes back by the tree at the party. However, she didn't really want to go back. She spotted the sun slowly starting to slip over the horizon and smiled, early morning... Or late Moroi night.

She leaned her head back against the wall and waited to feel the sun on her face.
~
Gunner looked at him when Sebastian checked his phone and informed him that they would be rooming together for the night. He nodded and started to head back to his dorm with him. He wasn't stumbling around but he sure was a little wobbly. He felt Sebastian's hand on his arm and chuckled a little. It was very very very rare that Sebastian was sober and Gunner was sloshed. The fact that it was Sebastian walking him home and not the other way around was an amusing thought.

They reached his room shortly after and Gunner crawled into his bed. He grabbed the water bottle that sat on his night stand and chugged the water that was in it. Once he finished, he rolled over and pulled his blankets onto him and fell asleep.
~
Rae chuckled as she bit as his lip, "Well, except for the fact that I texted him that some girl was here."

He stole his bottom lip back from her and grinned in a way that showed of his fangs. He turned her around and kissed her neck as his hands went to undoing her dress. He smiled at he kissed her, "Now, we won't be needing this."

Once he managed to get it on the floor, he took Gabby's hand and took her to the bed.

With a shake of her head she laughed, 'Complete gentlemen" she found that funny. When he asked if she wanted the Moroi side she nodded and started off, glad that they were already in the middle of the schools 'back yard'.

From the Moroi side of the school she could see quite a few teacher's windows, some already having gone to bed, but she saw no Guardians until she was almost in the building. She got in through one of the air vents on the side of the school, and ended up dropping down into the room she'd had English in. That meant that she was three room away from the Cafeteria. With an excited wiggle she started to walk from the room, the dark halls brighter to her dhampir eyes. It wasn't until she passed the third room and had her hand on the Cafeteria door that she felt eyes on the back of her neck.

Turning around, she looked down the hall at a Guardian who was silently watching her. Goosebump prickled over her skin as the tan woman started up the hall way.

"I don't know how you got in here, but being in this building after hours is prohibited. Because it is the first night and I don't feel like waking up the headmaster, you're getting a warning. Now, the fastest way out is through the kitchen and out the main hall on the Dhampir side. Here is a note to get you past the Guardian on that side. I'll also tell him you're coming." The burnette woman nodded and Niya stared at her for a moment, dumbfounded.

A teacher usually didn't let students off like that, but if she was going to give her the wiggle room, Niya was going to take it. She with a quick nod she was through the kitchen doors as quickly as possible.

For a moment she stopped in the kitchen seeing a male leanign against the door. The beany gave it away. "Jordan!" She ran up to him. "Sorry that I can not make a sandwich with you, but I am supposed to be passing a Guardian in a few moments." She held up the note to him before she started backing up towards the Dhampir side of the campus.

---

As he grinned at her she giggled and turned easily so that he could get at her dress. The loose material fell away slowly before she shivered and followed him to bed, her only article of clothing on was her underwear, since there hadn't been a need for a bra.

Once they were near and on the bed she stood on it and looked down at him, lifting one eyebrow.

Jordan laughed as she held up the paper, "Got caught huh... Hold on, I'll walk you back. The Guardian won't be surprised to see me, I get into trouble a lot for things like this... What can I say, I get hungry."

He walked back with her chatting away companionably and when they got to the Dhampir dorms he pretended to tip a non-existant hat, "Sweet dreams, I'll see you in classes tomorrow."

Back in his own room he tugged off his shirt and his beanie and laid down but as usual he couldn't really sleep, insomnia sucked. So, instead he closed his eyes and listened to the music on his ipod till he finally did pass out.

The next moroi morning he found the lunchroom pretty much packed and glanced around, he spotted Anna and her group... he knew Gunner from spending summers here as well, and then spotted a few others he knew. Since he didn't really have friends, just groups of people he bounced to and from, he found a couple guys he knew and took a seat. He wondered if he'd see Kseniya this morning or not.

~*~

Anna groaned when she opened sandpaper dry eyes and found her head pounding like someone was taking a jackhammer to it.... every little noise, movement, flash of light made her want to curl up into a little ball and never get out of bed again. Still, it's hard to ignore the need to vomit when it hits you so hard. She shot up, ignoring the pain in her head and practically tripped to the bathroom to throw up. It wasn't a pretty sound and afterwards she bathed, brushed her teeth, and downed an entire bottle of water in two seconds flat.

She glanced at Niya's bed hoping she hadn't woken her with all her retching, that would be great to wake up to. She popped three advil and downed another bottle of water before even attempting to leave the room. She left her hair down, semi damp, she wore no make-up because the florescent light in the bathroom had felt like murder too much to even try. Her clothes consisted of a pair of loose sweat pants and a tanktop. All in all, she looked pretty miserable as she slipped into the table they'd claimed for the year and placed her head on her arms with a groan... She couldn't even think about food right now. The most she'd grabbed in the line was a banana and another bottle of water, both which were tucked in her hands.... not being used or even thought of.

She heard Sebastian coming, she could tell it was him because as big as Gunner was he was remarkably light footed. "Kill me now," she groaned.

He laughed, "That's what you get for going past drunk into the land of smashed. You aren't built for it..." He shook a bottle of alieve at her and she groaned at the noise, pushing the bottle away.

"Already took three... didn't help."

~*~

Sebastian had gotten up early for him because he'd remembered something and had wanted to go back... He'd found two pairs of shoes by the tree, Serena's and Anna's and shook his head. Girls would forget their heads if they weren't attached sometimes. He was about to head back when he'd spotted an aura lingering by the wards. It was angry, flaring furiously but tinged with something else... desire. He took a step in that direction but heard the bell for breakfast ring and, with a frown, headed back. Breakfast would be his soonest chance at getting the girl's shoes to them.

He jogged his way back and found Anna looking miserable and couldn't help teasing her a little. He dropped her shoes beside her, "Have you seen Serena?"

She blinked up out of her arms painfully, "I haven't seen much of anything Seb... Owww...."

~*~

Guardian Belikov was at his usual post, wondering if he'd see Ms. Matila this morning or not...

Gunner had slept through Sebastian getting up that morning and woke to an empty room. His head hurt but beyond that, he felt pretty good. He decided the water from the previous night had helped. He crawled out of bed and grabbed his water bottle and refilled it while he got ready in the dark. As good as he felt, he still felt pretty shitty. He threw on a t-shirt and a jeans before he made his way to the cafeteria. Walking over to the line, he grabbed an apple and items of food that did not remind him of vomit, such as scrambled eggs. So, he was left with a rather unhealthy breakfast of bacon, waffles, hash browns, and, of course, his apple.

He walked over to the table and dropped into his seat, opening his water bottle and chugging a portion of it. He looked at Anna, in hopes that last night had been a fluke or he had just like the dress. However, as he looked at her now, even as dishevelled as she was, she was beautiful. He groaned a little and drank from his water again, "Well, I'm glad that someone is a little worse off than me," he teased before biting into his apple.
~
Serena woke up the next morning tired. She guessed staying up as late as she did to see the sun rise, wasn't a very wise idea. She rubbed her eyes as she got out of bed and changed into jeans and a sweater. Montana was colder in the night than Siena was and she was starting to greatly fear their winter. She grabbed a square scarf and tied it around her neck delicately before she left the room.

She made her way back to where the party was to retrieve her shoes, only to find that they weren't there. She groaned a little and looked around. Her eyes fell on the ward, it was night for the humans, meaning the Strigoi from the night before was probably out there again. She wrapped her arms around herself, her mood darkening further and walked to the cafeteria to be with the others. She made a pit stop at the food line and left with a few fruits and berries on it. She made her way to the table and put her tray down. She looked at Sebastian and saw her shoes in his hand, "Oy," She said with a small smile, "I do not think those will fit you."

She took them from him and nodded to him, "Thanks for... um.... grabbing them. I just went back and could not find them anywhere. I see why."

She placed them on the ground next to her and plunked a blue berry in her mouth, "How are our ubriachi?"

Gunner looked at her confused, "What does that mean?"

"Drunks," Serena said with a small smile as she stabbed a piece of melon with her fork.

Anna felt Gunner take a seat and groaned at his words, "Don't remind me..."

She lifted her head but had yet to actually look at him, she was trying to act normal and turning twelve different shades of red wasn't normal and she would if she looked at him. Unfortunately, she remembered everything from the night before... including nearly kissing him. The only thing that had saved her had been the urgent need to vomit that had faded once she'd gotten up and wandered off. Then, of course... there had been Anya. She didn't remember things like conversation but she remembered the big things.... and seeing their best friend as a Strigoi and almost kissing Gunner were big things.

She wasn't quite sure how she'd gotten back to the room, probably Serena since she'd been there when Anya had shown up and that was the last thing she remembered very clearly. She peeled the banana and eyed it momentarily. Her stomach REALLY didn't want anything but she knew if she wanted to feel better anytime soon that she needed to eat small amounts and drink water as much as possible. She took a bite and then finally felt up to looking at Gunner. She glanced his way and smacked his shoulder lightly, "How come you don't feel as bad as me? Some kind of muscle mass thing? I remember you drinking just as much as me..." She furrowed her brows, "I think... I don't remember much after drink number four..."

This was how she was going to play this out... Yup. If she pretended she didn't remember anything and Gunner did then he wouldn't feel so bad... If she pretended she didn't remember and he didn't either well... problem solved.

Beside her Sebastian snorted and she turned and eyed him warily, he shrugged and turned to Serena as she approached. Obviously, her aura this morning was giving her away.

~*~

Seb grinned, "Your right... what on earth was I thinking. They'd look much better on you," he teased. He handed them back to her and then chuckled, "Suffering for their sins. Only I'm allowed to drink that much."

Anna glowered at him, "After all the times we nursed you through your hang overs you'd think you'd have a little mercy..."

Sebastian patted her head, "Empathy has never been my strong suit..." He frowned thinking of Spirit when it pulled at him to heal something, actually his palms were itching right now to fix his friends. Healing a hang over though was sooo not worth the blow back so he rubbed his hands on his jeans instead. "Okay... maybe it is, but not by choice."

He looked at Serena, "What happened last night... You were happy when you left to find Anna, when you came back you looked miserable... Did you two fight?"

Anna blinked, "Yeah... I was pretty drunk. I yelled at her a little when she told me to go back to you guys... something about not acting like my mother." She turned to Serena, "I'm sorry about that by the way... You don't act anything like my mother and you were just looking after me."

She felt bad for lying but Serena needed a cover and if either of them said anything about Anya... well... things would go down hill fast.

Seb arched a brow, "I thought you didn't remember much after drink number four?"

Anna looked back at her banana studiously, avoiding his eyes, "Yeah well... that's one of the things I remember."

Seb smiled as if he was a cat who'd caught a canary... and Anna felt like it, "What else do you remember?"

She glared at him and answered snappily, "Not much."

Seb raised his hands in surrender, "Okay okay, don't eat my face... Hey Serena, do you mind if we stop by the feeders after this?" As if realizing what he'd asked he back tracked, "I mean... you and Gunner or Anna could trade Wards for just a few... You don't have to come if you don't want... or you could stand outside..."

Walking back to the dorms across from the cafeteria had been funny. Jordan had kept her entertained, not exactly making fun of her when she had told him she'd been caught. He'd taken her straight up to her dorm before slipping away to do whatever he was going to do. Honestly she was curious, but she was also tired and that jet lag was making her feel like she was walking around half asleep.

Once she was back in the room she saw Anna passed out, giggling at her, before she just shook her head. After getting fresh clothing on she flopped on to the bed, curling up on her side.

When her alarm started going off, she blinked, not realizing that she'd fallen asleep. There was some dried drool on the side of her cheek while her arm was asleep under her. Anna had apparently just left, since there was still steam coming from the bathroom.

Once she was dressed she left the room, headed for the Cafeteria. Hope that she would see her friends for the second day made her happy, her hips wiggling as she walked. Both of her hands were buried in her pants pockets, her head going from side to side, until she entered the dining hall. Almost everyone was already there, but Niya spotted her group easily. With a quick wave to everyone she went to the line and just got a banana and an orange. She quickly went to her friends, excited to tell them about the guy she'd met. She hadn't seen him yet at breakfast, but she was sure that would change.

---

Trishia had gone to be early the night before, not having wanted to bear the headache that was bumping against her skull. The next morning though she was up and about, headed for breakfast. She wondered if Aleks would want her to stop by for second period again.

Serena crossed her legs on her chair, finding it to be a more comfortable way to sit and ate her fruit watching Sebastian and Anna as they spoke. When he asked about her mood the night before, she looked to her plate. She luckily had a piece of melon in her mouth, giving her time to think. However, she didn't need it as Anna answered quickly for her. Serena looked at her and nodded, finished of the melon, "It is okay... I shouldn't have let it bother me..."

She guessed that she shouldn't have let what the Strigoi said bother her. But it did. A lot. She stabbed at her fruit again but didn't say anything as Sebastian bugged Anna about something that she apparently wasn't sharing. Anna snapped at him causing her to giggle a little as she bit into the strawberry on her fork. Sebastian then returned his attention to her because as he asked to go to the feeders, her face feel. She knew that he meant nothing by it and that was even more clear when he quickly offered to let her not go. She guessed it just hit a little to close to home. All the same, she looked at him and smiled brightly, "No, it is okay. I will take you."

She pushed her food away, no longer hungry, and stood. As much as she didn't want to go, it would be suspicious if she didn't go. Moroi went to feeders it was common and wasn't really an issue with Dhampirs. However, before she could leave, Niya joined them. Serena gave her a small wave. Shortly after, a boy she had yet to see walked over and greeted everyone. It seemed she was the only yet to have met his acquaintance. She gave him a small wave when he introduced himself, "Serena."
~
Gunner shrugged, "More actually. Only a shot more... but more," He laughed a little, "I guess though. I'm heavier, taller, male. Those all play in it."

He grabbed his juice when she spoke about not being able to remember anything. He couldn't say whether she was lying or not, either way he decided what she had done the night before had been because of the alcohol. He glanced at her, "I don't remember much though... I do remember the dress, I was stone sober for that," He smirked at her and chugged his orange juice.

Then Anna and Sebastian were bickering and he was nibbling at his bacon as they did. He glanced at Anna when she started to explain what had happened between Serena and her. Sebastian asked the question that he was thinking and Anna slowly got defensive. Gunner knew then that Anna had been lying but he didn't know why. Because she was embarrassed of what the alcohol did or because she had actually wanted to kiss him and was embarrassed by that. He glanced at Sebastian before he started to rip apart his waffles and eat them. He was mid bit when Niya joined them. He nodded to her and chew his waffle. Shortly after, Jordan walked over. He was a little confused when he saw him approach, until he addressed Niya first. This guy had an agenda. He smiled a little and nodded to the guy before continuing to eat through his breakfast.

Jordan spotted Niya shortly after she grabbed her food and smiled before standing and bumping fists with one of the guys before excusing himself from their group and heading over to Anna's group, which apparently Niya was part of. He headed over and paused in front of the table, "Hey Niya... Anna, Gunner, Seb, it's nice to see you guys outside of class." He looked at Serena and nodded politely in her direction, "I don't think we've met... I'm Jordan. You guys mind if I set, if it's okay with Niya of course."

He smiled at her, hands tucked in his pockets as per his normal stance and his manner casual and polite, but the smile was a touch playful. He gave her a wink.

Anna blinked and glanced up, she recognized Jordan from class and nodded, "Hey, yeah sure... the more the merrier."

Seb shrugged, "I don't mind... another member on team manly. Point for us and all that."

Jordan took a seat next to Niya, setting his tray down. He'd picked eggs, a fruit bowl, bacon, and pancakes.... all of which he would eat. Despite being muscled he ate pretty heavily, probably because he burned it off in class or when he jogged listening to his music in his free time. He glanced at her, "So... how you liking day two so far?"

~EDIT~

Anna stuck her tongue out at Gunner when he noted the differences, starting to feel a little better now that the water was in her system. His curious look when Seb had asked his questions made her shift nervously before he spoke. Well, so much for not turning red. Her cheeks were blazing with a blush, she could feel the heat rushing up her chest and burning her face. She quickly took another bite of her banana to buy herself time to think on how to reply to that. It was just Gunner's normal playful flirting, he didn't mean anything by it... right? Still, somehow the idea that he didn't remember was both a relief and yet not... She felt like she was keeping a serious secret from him and she'd never kept secrets from Gunner... That made two, her feelings and Anya.

She swollowed and rolled her eyes before bumping shoulders with him, "What are you talking about... I'm always smoking hot lover boy." She gave him a wink as she hoped that was an appropriate response... Geeze she felt so awkward... "You just noticed it last night because I was all prettified."

~*~

Seb glanced at Serena, "If you're sure... see you guys in class."

Anna waved as Seb walked off with Serena... Once at the feeders he paused, "You really can wait outside... I can tell them I made you. They'd believe it. I'm a pain in the ass ward."

~*~

Anna glanced at Jordan and Niya, "How did you two meet?"

Gunner bit his tongue. He could have gone one of two ways. Pointing out how she looked now, saying that her statement was untrue. But he felt like that would hurt her feelings and ultimately, it was a complete lie. Or he could agree and make things between them even more awkward. Instead, he just laughed a little and said nothing more, stuffing his face further with his breakfast.

He watched as Serena and Sebastian left the table and was glad when Anna changed the subject. He looked at Anna and smirked, "I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say running into each other at the party."
~
Serena walked off with Sebastian and looked at him when he paused. She bit her lip and shook her head, "I do not think they would believe that. You may be a pain in the ass but you are not an ass. I barely know you and I know that. Your friends, they would not believe you. Or they would think there was a reason.... and they would be curious..." She bit her lip and gave him a small smile, "It is okay... I.... will just stand in the corner.... with my eyes closed or something...."

"Anna would never ask and would probably murder anyone who pressured you to talk about it... Gunner included. She's very protective and she can spot a touchy subject a mile away..."

Sebastian hesitated but nodded, seeing there was no arguing with her. He went into the feeders and headed to the desk. It didn't take him long to get called and he waved before going in behind the curtain. For her sake he tried to hurry and made sure his mouth was clean before he stepped back out. He walked over, looking nervous. "You okay? I didn't take too long did I?"

He didn't want to make her uncomfortable and seeing blood on his mouth would have more than surely made her uncomfortable. He also had hurried because he didn't relish the idea of someone like Rae spotting her standing like that and do his usual thing and flirt or even mention biting. He'd have honestly had to hurt the guy... He wasn't sure when he started to feel protective over Serena, he knew she could kick his ass if she wanted, but either way... he did.

~*~

Anna again stuck her tongue out at Gunner... She thought about training classes and their usual partnership and promptly felt awkward again. How was she going to handle feeling like this with them grappling and stuff? She blew a stray strand of hair from her face feeling troubled... It showed because it was only a moment later that she had a strand in her hair tugging and playing with it nervously.

Maybe she could call out of class sick? She bit her bottom lip, worrying the skin as she rethought that. She couldn't call out sick all year and she didn't want another partner... She'd just have to... get over it. She wondered how Basil was, trying to distract herself with duty. She'd remembered the extra water and to grab the advil... She wondered if her Moroi friend felt as bad as she did this morning. "How was your day with Gabby," Anna asked Gunner distractedly.

~*~

Anya moved down the street, licking blood from her lips. She'd paid a visit to her family, waited till her siblings had snuck out without their Guardians as was usual for them when they were meeting to party... It had taken short work to drain them both dry as well as their friends and she felt stronger because of it. She'd relished killing them, they'd tormented her in life so she'd made their deaths painful though she hadn't had the time to waste to make them slow. Then, she'd headed back to the school to eye the grounds... Seb had seen her then, her aura anyway, though she hadn't seen him... She'd been thinking of him though... and how sweet he would taste before she turned him.

Serena went with him and stood outside the curtained room and closed her eyes, her hand hold her wrist tightly behind her back. She tried to just listen to the chatter of those in the waiting room over the sighs of the endorphin filled feeders. She felt sick as she tried to distract herself from how those endorphins felt coursing through her. How much she had enjoyed being bitten and even, at her lowest point, invited it. It was always when she was at Santa Cathrina's and went the day, quite irritably, without the endorphins that she thought her clearest. The night she had decided she was leaving was one of the last few days on class. She camped out at the school, despite the fact that she wasn't supposed to be there and when she felt like she could make a coherent thought, she went to the counsellor. The woman had basically started crying cursing about the poor life Serena had been living and was so proud of her for wanting to do more with her life, for seeking help. It was her, who help Serena apply to attend San Vladimir and even helped pay her way here.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by Sebastian. She was leaning against the solid 'wall' that the curtains were attached to. She pulled her head off the wall and looked at Sebastian, "Eh?... oh sì sì, sto bene. Eri rapido," She shook her head catching herself, "I am fine.... uh... you were quick," She translated.

She took a deep breath and looked around, trying not to look into any of the small rooms, "You good to go?"
~
Gunner looked at Anna when she asked about Gabby and smirked, "Why? You jealous?" He teased before shaking his head, "Fine... It was boring. She had study hall... So, I got to stand in a silent room for an hour.... And there wasn't a single other novice. Was almost worse than having to watch Rae and her flirt.... I know we do it all the time but... God, I don't know how Sebastian puts up with it.... I felt like my ears were bleeding."

He took a bite of his apple and shrugged, "In the end, I could have it worse... I guess," He thought about it for a moment, "You got Basil right? How's that going for you?"

Niya saw Jordan once he was near the table infront of her's, her hand coming up to wave at him before she spoke. "Hey Jordan," she listened Serena and Jordan introduced themselves, before she spoke again, "It would be great for you to join us."

Once Anna gave her approval Niya smile and sat down with the new man. The wink had made her blush, she didn't know why, before she came face to face with him. The comment from Sebastian made her laugh a little, before she finally looked down to see what Jordan had bought. Both of her eyebrows rose up before she shook her head. "You can not eat all of that. My god." She shook her head again and shrugged at the question. "It has been fine so far, I got to sleep in, sort of, and I don't have to drink a protein shake here."

Her head nodded before she started to nibble at her banana, having peeled it while speaking.

Sebastian and Serena left not long after Jordan arrived, and Niya explained their meeting as she watched both parties going. "Oh, um...after the little drinking thing I was going to the dorms. On the way there I met Jordan." She gave a slightly nod before taking a few more bites. There was a sort of slow chew that let you know she enjoyed her food.

The oddities between Anna and Gunner were apparent from the other side of the table. Honestly Niya wondered if they'd done something sexual once she left, but she doubted Gunner let himself get that drunk.

"So Jordan," Niya looked at him after swallowing again, "Who is your charge?" She tilted her head, smiling a little."

Anna smiled somewhat, "Good actually... she's not stuck up or anything which is nice. She'll hold a conversation and seems honestly interested in helping whatever Guardian she ends up with keep her safe... even if her parents are a little less open minded."

She glanced at the clock, the bell was going to go off soon. "Speaking of Basil, I better go find her... classes start soon."

Training for the Dhampirs wasn't until after lunch which meant that the first part of the day was left to guarding. It also meant that she'd have time to sort herself out.

She waved to Gunner and Niya and then headed off to find Basil.

~*~

Sebastian nodded, "Yeah, time for classes soon... you ready to go?"

He patted her head playfully and then headed in the direction of his first period. They hadn't gotten far when a Guardian dressed all in black leapt out from an open doorway and grabbed hold of him and pulled him back against them, yanking his head to the side. "Shit.. already?"

In an effort to buy Serena time to attack he threw his head back and hit the Guardian in the nose. It was effective in causing the Guardian to release him and stumble back with a curse.

~*~

Jordan smiled, "I got one of the Badicas.... she was starting school late because her dad was supposed to be coming back into town last night but she didn't come in to school today. I already checked for her." He shrugged, "Maybe they decided to drag out the happy home coming..."

He frowned when he heard a commotion out in the hall. "What's that?"

He got up and nodded in the direction of the hall, indicating she should follow so they could see what was up. What he saw was a Guardian attacking Sebastian and the girl that had introduced herself as Serena. "Why are they attacking so soon?"

Another Moroi who'd overheard him answered, "There was a strigoi attack last night... Two of the Badica kids were killed while they were sneaking out of their house..."

"Holy shit..." Jordan murmured. He hadn't known the Badica girl he was supposed to watch very well but he'd seen her around...

Serena nodded and fixed her hair after Sebastian patted her head. Serena caught something move out of the corner of her eye. However, before she could react the 'strigoi' had a hold of Sebastian. She hadn't been expecting the attack, it was only the second day. The Guardians normally waited until the second half of the year to start their attacks, otherwise they'd be too bruised from all the fighting to actually teach. Not to mention, she hadn't even gotten a silver stake to stab with. In the split second that Sebastian gave her by throwing his head back. Her mind was a buzz. There wasn't any thing to decapitate and no matter how much it worked on a real strigoi, she was pretty sure that the Guardians would not be okay with her setting someone on fire.

Instead, she jumped at the Guardian and started her attack, moving him away from Sebastian. When she saw the opening, she swung her foot connecting with the unsuspecting Guardian's head. He stumbled again and for a moment was incapacitated. Without hesitating, Serena turned away from the Guardian, grabbed Sebastian's hand and sprinted off with him. She wasn't winning this battle, her job was to keep Sebastian safe, not kill all the Strigoi she faced. When they were far enough away that she doubted the teacher would follow, she looked at Sebastian. She looked at him a moment before bursting out into laughter, "You almost broke his nose!" She smiled at him, "I am impressed, Sebastian."

Realizing she was still holding his hand from their escape, she dropped it quickly, "We should head to you class, no?"
~
Gunner looked up at the sound of commotion to see Serena fighting with a Guardian. His eyebrows knitted together, this couldn't be good. He looked at a Moroi who informed them about the Badica attack and stood, "Did they say who?"

"Jenna and her brother," The Moroi informed. Gunner's face darkened and he left the cafeteria in a hurry. He quickly caught up to Anna and caught her wrist, "Did you hear about the Strigoi attack?" He asked.

The confusion on her face, however, told him she had not. He grimaced, "It was a couple of Badica kids.... Jenna and Oliver...." He hated about thinking of Anya as Strigoi but it had crossed his mind many times, "I don't think this was just some random attack...."

With Jordan explaining his ward, Niya raised an eyebrow. It wasn't odd for student to be pulled out of their classes by their parents, especially the royals. Honestly though, them not coming back was stranger than anything else. Why would someones parents keep them from their education? That was until they heard the commotion coming from the hall.

Following Jordan out, she looked at the small crowd that had formed when the "strigoi" attacked. That was all that she saw until Serena and Sebastian sprint off, the teacher following after them for a ways. That was one way to avoid getting attacked. With a little shake of her head she smiled and blinked as the student said something about the Badicas being attacked. With a frown she patted Jordan's back. "That's horrible...I'm sorry for your loss." Her lips bowed down at the edges before she sighed. "Alright, I must find Rae. Hopefully he isn't snacking on some poor girl."

With a bow she smiled. "I will try to find you later alright. I hope that you get a new assignment soon." With that she took off, looking for Rae.

---

Gabby was milling around inside of the cafeteria, finishing up her piece of pancake, before she stood and stretched.

Any moment now Gunner was going to come find her, she had a free period first and she wanted to go eat.

---

Trishia was headed out to her class room, having just grabbed an apple from the teachers lounge.

Anna felt shaken... She had wanted to keep Anya from he and Sebastian. Now though, it was looking like that wasn't an option but if she admitted seeing Anya then he would know about her remembering more than she was letting on. She bit her lip, her friends were more important than her fears of her own emotions so she took a breath. "I... saw Anya... last night."

She cut him off before he could ask her about the dream, "It wasn't a dream... I really saw her. Serena was there, Anya threatened her and made it pretty clear she wanted us all back as a 'family' again... I didn't say anything because I didn't want Sebastian running off and doing something stupid, getting himself killed. I... also didn't want to be the one to break that kind of news..."

She tucked her hair behind her ear, "I didn't want you knowing because I was worried you'd see it as your duty to go after her and we aren't ready... We still have the stake training coming up, we know the basics but we'd... we'd get ourselves killed. I don't even know if she is alone, the Strigoi have been traveling in packs." She knew he was probably going to be angry but she'd done what she'd thought was best for all of them.

She spotted Basil and looked at Gunner guiltily one more time, "Don't tell Seb... you know he'd do something stupid and he has been so happy lately..."

She took off after Basil, calling her name.

~*~

Sebastian smiled, enjoying her laughter. "Well, I suppose you pass. I don't think the Guardian actually expected me to actually fight back either... most Moroi probably still freeze up despite the lessons."

He ran a hand through his hair, "I wonder why they're attacking this early in the year though... it makes no sense. You haven't even been through stake training..."

~*~

Jordan shook his head, "I didn't know her..." As she excused herself he shrugged, "I don't have a ward... I'll just follow you around as a far guard for today till they figure out what to do with me... If you don't mind."

He sighed, "I feel bad for their family though..."

Gunner looked at her and was sent into a whirlwind of questions. However, Anna ran off before he could think about asking any of them. Why on earth had Anya threatened Serena? Was Anya actually intending on turning them Strigoi? Did Anna actually remember more about last night than she was leading onto? He stuffed his hands into his pockets and decided he'd best look for Gabby. He walked back to the cafeteria and looked around. He spotted her and nodded before situating himself close enough to watch but far enough away to give her some space.

Despite everything, he did have one answer. Anya was a Strigoi and it was his fault.
~
Serena shrugged, not really sure, "Maybe we are starting training with stakes early... I mean, I teach you to use one and just barely know myself," She then thought about Anya on the school's border. Had someone else seen her? She bit her lip, "Or... Maybe they just think... there is more of a threat of Strigoi."

She started to walk in the direction of her class, "I think we could play guessing games all day and never find out," Her fingers played with a strand of hair as she thought, "Maybe with so many new students they want to test them."

She pursed her lips, "I hope I did not kick him too hard. I do not really know the tutori well enough to.... kick them in the head...."
~
Rae walked lazily passed Niya, ignoring her. If she was looking for him, she'd stop and follow and he was on track to the feeders. There wasn't anything that was going to stop him either. He was bloody thirsty. No pun intended.
~
Basil heard Anna call her name and smiled at her. When she got to her, she grabbed the girl's wrists and whispered, "No yelling."

She laughed and released her, raising a water bottle to her lips, "I am beyond tired. That shindig, really should have been on the weekend or something. I do not want to sit in a class with hung-over fire users. Last year, someone set a desk on fire..."

She rubbed her temples, "How are you fairing? I saw you hanging around that blonde guy last night getting a little tipsy," She teased. She looked over and saw Gunner retreating into the cafeteria, "He's cute... Is that who you wore the dress for?" She asked with a wolfish grin.

Anna smiled and handed her the advil she'd brought, "Hmm... I could see where that could be dangerous..."

When Basil brought up Gunner she blushed deeply and decided that Basil would probably be the safest person to tell. She didn't really know Sebastian, Gunner, Serena, or Kseniya well so the only people she'd tell were other Moroi. Though... that was probably worse since the Moroi royals would just LOVE to get their hands on that kind of information about anyone. Good gossip was hard to come by. "Nah... I might as well be a guy when it comes to Gunner. He doesn't see me that way. I think seeing me in that dress just freaked him out, he's not used to me being girly."

She walked with Basil towards her classes, "Plus he's kinda hung up on duty and propriety... He's not the type to go taboo. If he ever had a girlfriend she'd be Moroi." She eyed Basil, "You'd probably be more his type than I would. Pretty, leggy, blonde, moroi..." She stretched a little, "As for me, I've got a family to think about back home. I don't really have the time for any serious relationships and I'm not really the type for hot flings... So consider my love life a dead end at the moment." She stuck her tongue out at the other girl playfully.

She didn't mention the fact that Gunner probably still saw Anya's change as his fault... He had been meant to be Guarding her that year but Anya's step mother had been pretty clever and had forced Gunner to go get fitted for 'more appropriate attire' while staying in her house. She hadn't given Gunner a choice, either he went and got fitted or she sent him back to academy since he didn't look 'suitable' to be her daughter's guardian. Gunner was being attacked by fitters when Anya's mother had taken them all out shopping, forcing Anya along even though she hadn't wanted to go... Gunner hadn't even known they'd left till he managed to escape them. By that time though, the Badicas had been returning without her. Gunner had walked all the way to the mall to go and find her but there had been no sign... It hadn't been his fault, but he believed that he should have done something so he could have been with her....

She walked with her through classes till around lunch time and then shrugged, "You need to hit the feeders before the lunchroom?"

~*~

Sebastian chuckled, "Maybe... and don't worry about the teachers. They'd be more angry with them if you didn't kick them in the head and failed to protect me."

He eyed her, "Good job protecting me by the way. Lets get to class, if I'm late too much again this year I think the teachers heads may explode."

He headed to class and the day pretty much flew by uneventfully except that he kept hearing rumors about a strigoi attack but every time he asked who'd been attacked someone gave him a different answer and eventually he'd given up. The gossip in this school was insane and hear say got things mixed up.

Basil looked at Anna as she explained how strict this Gunner guy was. She shook her head, "Oh come on, he hasn't broken the rules once for you?" She laughed a little, "Honestly, I don't get why it is so taboo. I mean sure you can't have kids but is that really all we want to be? Vessels for reproduction?"

She laughed a little and took an Advil, "I get a bit... profound when I'm hung-over," She downed it with her water and walked to class.

It had all been easy enough, no one set anything on fire. Or accidentally suffocated someone, or drowned them, or buried them. It was actually pretty amazing that the school let them play around with such dangerous elements in ways that encouraged them to make them dangerous. In the end, it seemed everyone survived until lunch. Basil shook her head when Anna asked if she wanted to go to the feeders, "No, I went early this morning. It really helps with the hangover blues."

She walked into the cafeteria and grabbed an apple, not really needing food. She looked at Anna, "So, are you off the clock now? Or do you have to stand around while I eat... Because I can sit near your friends or something..."
~
Serena smiled and shrugged, "It is my job."

When they got to his class, Serena stood back. There was plethora of things being spoken about, she felt strange to be among them. People spoke about the first attack of the year and her apparently amazing kick. She thought about it, the Guardian had been a fair bit taller than her, she guessed it had been pretty amazing to someone who didn't know exactly what was happening. She'd been a little worried that the Guardian would have grabbed her leg, she'd have managed but wouldn't have been such a quick fight. She was pretty certain that the trick wouldn't work twice.

She followed Sebastian around, chatting with him while keeping her eyes on their surroundings. Who knew if the Guardians would feel the need to attack her again. She still didn't have her stake, so it would have ended just the same.

She tried to listen onto the conversations that Sebastian had about the Strigoi. However, he wasn't getting one definitive answer. She just hoped that if he got one, it wasn't linked to the girl Strigoi. Anna had been quite serious about not wanting him to find out. When they made it to lunch, she held her hands behind herself, "Soon, I will be able to stake the 'strigoi' for you," She said with a smile, "And maybe I can teach you more... It will not be as good without a... uh... manichino...." She blushed as she did when she couldn't remember the translation, "But I can help with motions...."

If he found out about Anya and Anna was so certain that he was going to go after her. She was at least going to make sure that he wouldn't get himself killed trying.

With a little blink towards Jordan she nodded and smiled. "That will be great. It will also make this easier for us today." Again, as she had the night before, she almost slammed into Rae. With a few blinks though, she started off after him, seeming casual while focused. He was going to be the most frustrating part of he life, and she knew it.

For a moment Niya honestly didn't know where they were headed, until she spotted the words, "Feeders" on a small board outside of the vampire cafeteria.

Without pausing she followed Rae in, wiggling her nose at the sterile feel of the whole place. Rae would probably skip to the front of the line, since he seemed to never want to wait for anyone.

---

Gabby swallowed down a few more bits and pieces from her solid meal before she got up. Gunner was there at last, she hadn't wanted to leave without the poor guy. So, as she threw away her plastic bowl she gave him a nod. "Hey Gunner. Ready for a fun half day of following me around and being completely bored?" She didn't wait for an answer before nodding at him. "Of course you are because these sickos stick you with us while you're still in school.""

With a shake of her head she was on her way, headed for the feeders.