Anna was gone for maybe half the class since it took up two periods anyway and when she came back she was smiling again... She'd spent all of her time out of class with Jace and he'd made her feel a little bit better even if it had only been by taking her mind off things. Plus, for some reason she'd felt comfortable enough to tell him about Gunner... Of course, he'd brought it up first and she hadn't meant to tell him. She'd never even told Sebastian or Anya or even let herself realize it really so she wasn't sure why she'd told him beyond that she just... felt so comfortable.

"So, what has you so down?"

Anna had shrugged, "Boy trouble..." Another slip of the tongue but it was too late to take it back.

"That Novice in the hall with you? Did you break up?"

She had laughed, "Right... Well, you kinda have to be together in the first place to break up... No, I just... I let it slip how I feel and I don't think he'll feel the same... Actually, even if he did he would never let it happen." She felt a sharp pain in her chest and frowned again, "Why am I telling you all this? I don't usually unload on people like that..."

He'd glanced at her and given her a reassuring smile, "Just one of those faces I guess... and don't worry. If he can't see what a catch you are it's his loss..." He'd looked away sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I for one would love a shot at someone like you."

Anna had laughed again, "Like me? You mean someone who eats junk food and has such a winning personality?"

He'd looked at her all seriousness and she'd felt all warm, though again... nothing like when Gunner looked at her. "No... I mean someone so beautiful, confident, and strong. You're a rare find in a lady... You're tough but you're still so kind. It's kind of amazing actually... that balancing act."

Anna hadn't really known what to say, "How do you know I'm anything like that?"

He'd shrugged, "Maybe that boy of yours isn't the only one who has been admiring you... I'm just willing to admit it."

She'd left him feeling giddy and confused... she'd only ever felt giddy around Gunner so she felt guilty after just having kissed him and then feeling like that with someone else... even if it was like... ten times less intense. She didn't look at Gunner, her cheeks suddenly lit on fire and her stomach flip flopped nervously, as she grabbed a stake and began practice...

~*~

Jordan smiled as Niya came at him, all confidence and skill. He saw her hit coming as she caught his arm and took the hit to his shoulder. He shook it out as she reeled away and then came at her again, enjoying the sparring match as they traded punches and kicks until the teacher hollered for them to separate. He smiled at her and gave her a wink, "Thanks... it was a blast." He headed to his practice dummy and began nailing it with the stake he grabbed.

He kept his eye on Niya, watching her practice as well with a grin. "I'm glad I'm not your dummy," Jordan called to her as she practiced.

~*~

Sebastian was setting in class when one of the other students came in late. Seb recognized the blonde hair, blue eyed moroi as Jason Szlesky... Rae's good friend. Seb had never really liked the guy, there was something underhanded about his aura... something dark. Still, it was probably just from hiding what he really was and suffering from it... He was a Spirit user too but unlike Seb he was hiding it. He pretended to be a Fire User and conveniently skipped out on class any time there was something that required him to use skills with the element that were beyond his grasp since he wasn't really declared in it. Clever... if Seb had thought of it maybe he'd have done the same. It would have saved him a lot of grief with his family... Still, the guy was way too comfortable using compulsion on anyone anytime he felt like. He used it on teachers, on other royals, on students, on Guardians, on anyone he needed to to get his way. Usually, Seb wouldn't be so morally uptight about it... he used it too... but not like that... not all the time and not just to get what he wanted. Usually, he was protecting someone else... or using it accidentally.

He watched him take a seat, his aura a glow today... something had pleased him, and turn to Rae. Seb lost interest and went back to doodling on a spare piece of paper.

~*~

Aleks felt anger wash through him for a moment before he took a breath... He couldn't upset her, she was already too shaken up. "Who Trish?"

Serena smiled and left Gunner's side to go get her own stake, she had to learn to properly use one after all, if she was going to properly teach Sebastian. She grabbed it and turned to the dummy. She pursed her lips as she wasn't actually striking it. She was just moving through the motions, feeling her every movement and trying to think about how to explain it to Sebastian.
~
Gunner turned back to his dummy and took to stabbing it in the heart over and over. It was easy, he had the strength to easily get passed the ribs and sternum and the discipline to hit is mark. He started to move around it, trying stab the heart from different angles. Gunner had to move on from his dummy, by the time Anna arrived the heart was basically exposed and pummeled. He walked over to the new dummy and didn't really pay attention to what he was doing. Instead, he was focusing on Anna. She seemed happy and he had a feeling it wasn't from him. He hadn't followed her or had the chance to speak about that kiss and she looked devastated when she left. This sudden onslaught of smiling wasn't from him.

Wrapped up in his thoughts, he wasn't paying attention to where he was stabbing. Missing his target entirely, the stake drove into his leg. He cursed and looked down to see the tip of the stake was lodged into his leg. He shook his head and removed it, wiping the blood off on his pant leg before awkwardly hobbling over to the side to get wrap it up. He groaned a little, he couldn't believe he had just done that.
~
Rae grinned at Jace when he walked over to him, "Dude! You missed it! We're learning to make bombs!"

He laughed and one of his friends tossed a chair against the fire proof wall before Rae threw his fire sphere. After amount the ball expanded and swallowed the chair. The fire users cheered, beyond delighted with setting things on fire and blowing things up.

Anna wasn't so focused on her own practice that she didn't hear Gunner's grunt of pain. She turned in time to see him pulling the stake from his leg and winced. She went to him, it was habit.... He was her friend and he was hurt and so she didn't even think about their earlier incident. She took the first aid kit from the teacher who walked off shaking his head and sighed. "I'm going to ruin your pants, you'll get over it."

She took the sizzors and cut the leg of his pants off. She knew he had other pairs and it was safer and more sanitary... also less painful, to do it this way rather than trying to roll the pants over the wound. She knelt in front of him after ordering him to set on the bench. "I don't know how you did it Pretty boy... but that took some skill," she teased as she hoped it would lighten his mood. Her hands were shaking because she was nervous. She poured peroxide over the wound and then cleaned it up gently with a cotton swab. "It's actually not that bad... no infirmary needed... or stitches."

She kept her eyes on the wound on his leg, refusing to look up at him. She sprayed antiseptic on it and then placed a gauze square over it and began wrapping it. She had to say SOMETHING about earlier... She bit her lip and finally sighed. "Look... what happened earlier... forget it okay? It can't happen... I know that..." The words at the end came out a little shaky, probably because it felt like she'd just been stabbed in the heart again. "So, because it can't happen I don't want anything between us getting weird... so forget it. It was a mistake... I didn't..." She couldn't finish so she just finished wrapping his leg and secured the bandage before standing up.

"Besides... I've got an admirer. Who knows, maybe it's just curiosity about any relationship in general and I'll get over whatever is going on with me and fall head over heels with this dude." She shrugged trying to seem nonchalant, even though she'd practically just admitted she was still a virgin and even though she was not really even sure why she'd brought up Jace. Maybe because some part of her hoped he'd react... hoped he'd confirm that she hadn't been imagining him starting to kiss her back earlier but she didn't really believe that. Her eyes were a little empty and her stance a little stiff, the smile a little hollow as she tossed one of her regular punches into his shoulder. "Get up Pretty boy... class will be over soon."

She needed to talk to Serena... even if she had said she didn't want anything to change she knew some of it had to. She couldn't risk what had happened today happening again and so as much as she hated it... she wouldn't be practicing with Gunner anymore. If Serena was willing, she'd practice with her and Gunner could practice with... someone else. She took a breath, stealing herself... it had to be this way. She wasn't losing Gunner. They'd been friends forever... she couldn't see being without him. Who knows... maybe she would get past this and maybe she'd just throw herself into this thing with Jace. It would keep her busy... and maybe keep her mind off this hole eating its way through her chest.

Gunner looked down at Anna as she took tending to him. He smirked, "Well, now I'm just going to look stupid."

He fell back onto the bench as she ordered him to and groaned a little, "Don't bruise my ego further," He winced, inhaling sharply as she pour peroxide into the wound. His hands gripped the bench. It was surprising, how much pain he could put himself through and work through but the moment you sat him down to deal with those injuries were when he seemed to react the most to them. He nodded his head when she said he wouldn't have to go to the infirmary, "Good, no one has to know."

He kept watching her as she started to bandage him up. He couldn't help but smile a little. However, the words she spoke next caused that smile to wither away. Forget about the kiss? He didn't want to... That kiss had been... he didn't even know how to explain it and he surely didn't want to forget about it. When she mentioned the admirer, he kind of stopped listening to what she was saying. Did he like this admirer? Did she like him more? Was that why she was telling him to forget about it? Because she wanted to pursue this guy over him. He felt like he'd just been stabbed in the heart. He was pulled out of his head when she punched him in the arm telling him to get up. He put on his stoic face, not wanting betray what he was actually feeling. He walked over to his dummy stake in hand and stabbed it straight into the heart. It went in easily as though it was a plush toy rather than a state of the art model of a human.

He walked to the change rooms and changed into his pair of pants that was still intact. He sat on the bench and put his head on his hands. Class would be over soon enough and he decided he destroyed enough of the training dummies.

Anna noticed the look on Gunner's face and felt bad, anxious... what if he WOULD have made an exception for her? What if, as they usually did, they figured out some way around the situation of both of them being Seb's Guardians and protecting him or each other? Maybe he would have... but her better judgment told her that he wouldn't have. That if he agreed to anything it would be a 'during their last year' kind of thing... something that would be over once their childhood was. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck wishing, not for the first time, that she'd been born Moroi. Things would be so much easier... The bell for the end of class rang, signaling time for her to meet up with Basil and take her into the woods to train.

She glanced at where Gunner had disappeared into the boys locker room and sighed softly, looked like they wouldn't be walking to the Moroi classes together after all. She headed from the gym after changing and towards the Moroi class. She scanned the room for Basil and spotted Jace setting with Rae. He smiled at her, still not hiding his fangs and raised a hand in greeting. She felt a smile tug her lips despite her mood and nodded back at him before heading to Basil, "Hello again..."

~*~

Sebastian spotted Anna as she came in and frowned. Her aura was dull and gray, full of sorrow and apprehension. Something must have happened with Gunner because Anna was never THAT grey... she bounced back too fast. Still, her aura did lighten a bit and go a little warm around the edges when Jace greeted her. Seb frowned, since when did Anna know Jace? He would have to ask Serena if she knew what was going on because obviously he'd missed something. He'd ask Anna or Gunner if he had to but if Gunner was in a similar mood to Anna's.... Well, he'd rather avoid that conversation.

Gunner stood from the bench a short while after the bell rang. The guys were flooding into the locker room and he really didn't feel like moping while they all got changed. He grabbed his things and left the room. The last thing he wanted to do was go and stand in silence in Study Hall... However, that was exactly what he had to do. He stuffed his hands into pockets and headed to the Moroi class. Anna had beaten him, he kept his face stoic, trying not to show any of the feelings that swirled inside of him. He walked over to Gabby and gave her a nod before following her out of the classroom to head to her study hall and what was looking to be the longest hour of his life.
~
Basil looked up from the rock that she had been fashioning into a very sharp point and smiled at Anna, "Hello!"

She broke the rock, not wanting anyone to get hurt and stood. She was about to walk to the door when Gunner walked through it. She smiled and leaned against her desk as he walked over to Gabby then moments back out of the room. She grinned at Anna, "I seriously don't know how you keep it together around him.... He is fantastic to look at."

She wrapped her arm around the girl's arm and smiled, "Well, let's go for a walk," She giggled a little and walked out of the room with Anna and towards the forest. She beamed, "I feel very sneaky doing this all, you know."
~
Serena got a little lost... She hadn't had to go to the Moroi classroom before due to her being at the infirmary with Sebastian. When she stepped out of the locker room, back in proper clothing, Anna and Gunner were no where to be seen. She guessed that was the problem with having to wait for most people to leave the locker room was most people left the locker room.

So, she wandered, she didn't know who of the Dhampirs were heading to Sebastian's classroom and well, she was a little scared to ask. It had been very out of the ordinary of her to be the first to talk to someone like she had with Sebastian and Anna. She still didn't really know why she did but she was glad that she had.

She managed to find the room and smiled. She walked over to Sebastian and blushed a little, "Mi dispiace... I... um.... got lost."

Anna's smile faltered a little at Basil's comment but she hid it with a laugh, "Yeah well.... maybe I don't always do as well as you think."

She smiled again as Basil mentioned their adventure, "It is pretty sneaky... Actually, you mind if we go by the library? I know they do study hall in there but I think it would be useful for you to learn some first aid. If you get hurt and I'm hurt as well and am unable to help you myself or I'm unconscious from blood loss it would be good to know you could stop the bleeding or make sure neither of us get a nasty infection... I know it's not as fun as practicing fighting but you did so well yesterday that I don't think missing a day would hurt."

"Anna!"

Anna paused in her stride and glanced over her shoulder, Jace was catching up to her and Basil and his Guardian was Jordan apparently, he'd probably been reassigned when Jenna had.... She avoided that thought and blushed a little, "Umm... hi Jace."

He looked a little embarrassed, "I'm not interrupting right? I mean, I know your watching your ward but do either of you mind if I walk with you?"

Anna shrugged, "I don't mind if Basil doesn't... We're just headed to the library. Weren't you hanging out with Rae though? Won't he have something to say about you talking to a Dhampir?"

Jace shrugged, "Rae's a friend, not my keeper.... So, what do you say Basil?"

~*~

Sebastian frowned as he watched Gunner come in, yep... he was looking pretty dark and gloomy too... if not worse than Anna. He only seemed to get worse when he nodded at Gabby and followed her out. Seb shook his head and finally spotted Serena. "They left you behind huh? Don't take it personally, they both looked pretty... down."

He shook his head, "Do you know what happened there? They were fine before training, a little nervous on Anna's end maybe but fine..." He ran a hand through his hair, it was times like these that despite his excitement to learn to use the stake he wanted to follow after his friends. Something was going on and he was being left out of the loop.

He grabbed his things and headed with her towards the gym. He pulled his mind back to the present with a smile, "So... how did stake training go on your end? Kill any dummies?" He was still a little amazed at how skilled she was. The way she carried herself and the quiet way with which she spoke completely hid how lethal she could be.

Basil laughed a little and Anna's comment, "Well that is something you are going to have to tell me about."

She walked with her when she suggested that they go to the library instead of the forest. She nodded, "I suppose you are right.... I should at least know how to keep you alive if you are doing that for me.... And it is definitely not as fun as fi-"

She bit her tongue when she someone yelling Anna's name, she really shouldn't be blabbing about her learning to fight when others were around. She turned and saw Jason and smiled a little. She looked at Anna when she greeted the boy and spotted the small blush on her cheeks. Her smile grew, she was starting to see why the girl hadn't made a move on Gunner. Hard to make a move on someone when your heart is somewhere else. She looked at Jace when he asked her if it was alright if he tagged along with the two of them, "I have no qualms."

She turned and started to head back to the library, stepping a little ways from Anna, making room for her and Jace to chat.
~
Serena shrugged when Sebastian excused his friends for forgetting about her, "No, no... Um... They are not used to having to show new kids around. And I found my way... No harm."

When he asked her about what happened, she shook her head, "Sorry. They were fighting then Anna took off then we were staking things, Anna came back and Gunner.... um... staked his leg... Anna patched him up and he then he left."

She held her hands in front of her as they walked back to the gym. The walk was a lot quicker this time too. She smiled at him when he asked about stake training. She nodded, "Si. I could not get to sleep last night after...." She hesitated, she couldn't say after the Strigoi, "The party... I guess I was just too wound up... too much energy. So, I looked into some books that I brought from home... It had stuff about staking mainly for taller men... I never read it before because... I am short and female. It should help and oh!" She grinned and pointed to her ribs, "Ribs," She then pointed to her chest, "Sternum."

She blushed a little, not sure why she was so happy about learning words that he already knew. She shrugged a little, "I had to look them up in my English dictionary..."

As she, Basil, and Jace walked together Anna felt... kinda reminded how she Anya and Gunner used to be. The thought made her sad and nostalgic.... as if he knew, Jace slipped an arm around her shoulders. "Don't slap me but... you seemed kinda down."

Anna glanced up at him and laughed a little, "Just remembering stuff... Anyways, you know Basil?"

Jace laughed, "Well, she's a royal and she's in all of my classes so yes... I know Basil pretty well."

Anna rubbed the back of her neck, "Stupid question I guess..."

He gave her a light squeeze, "Nah..."

As they entered the library Anna spotted Gunner and suddenly felt uncomfortable with Jace's arm around her so she slipped out from underneath it and gave a bit of an apologetic smile. "Um, Basil.. those books are over here." She walked to the bookshelves and pulled three. None of them were exceptionally long but all of them had good examples and loads of info. "

Anna didn't see the irritation flash across Jace's face and since he was slightly behind Basil, she probably didn't either. Still, he hid it quickly by tucking his hands in his pockets and doing his best to look patient. Anna seemed content trying NOT to focus on his presence though so he tried a different tactic. "First aid? This would come in handy in case any of those fire bombs from Ms. Matila's class missed today."

Anna chuckled, "Yeah, that's why I'm having her do it... It's a Guardian's duty to make sure her Moroi takes care of herself right? If she got burned and I wasn't there to fix her up it would be good for her to know how right? She's only willing because I pointed out how bad of an aim most of the fire wielders have."

Jace smiled, "I have to admit... my aim is pretty bad. Maybe you could help me with that?"

Suddenly, she felt like she was going to overheat under his gaze... It really made no sense because a moment ago she'd felt uncomfortable with him looking at her like that but now she felt... flattered. She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced away from him nervously, her cheeks a little red, "Yeah... um... sure... I mean, I have tutoring with Basil usually after her last class but maybe sometime on the weekends?"

He smiled, "Good..."

She seemed to cool down almost as suddenly as she'd gotten overheated and blinked, shaking her head. "Um... I'll be back in a minute. Basil, you got this?"

After Basil confirmed she slipped away from the two and bit at her lip as she headed over to Gunner, "Hey... um... you okay?"

~*~

Sebastian frowned, "Hmmm... weird..."

His frown faded and he chuckled at her enthusiasm, "Er....Ringrazio per... avermi insegnato... Um... Vuol dire... molto."

He grimaced, "That was probably horrible wasn't it? It took me all of my last class to figure out how to say that since Spirit attacks aren't really something I can work on instead..."

As they entered the gym he glanced at the dummies, "I hope I don't take a page from Gunner's book... stabbing one's self in the leg with a stake sounds painful.... How do I stand?"

Basil smiled as she walked, trying to listen in without looking as though she was listening. Jace was cute, not really her style but she could totally see him and Anna together and if she wasn't going to do anything with Gunner, why not set her up with Jace.

She looked at Anna when she said her name and followed her over to the bookshelf. She took the books from her and nodded, taking a seat, "Thanks,"

She opened them and was about to start reading them when Jace made comment. She was kind of happy that he made an excuse for them. She nodded, "It is totally boring... but," She shrugged, "I think my parents would prefer I'm reading up on how to bandage an arm than punch and Strigoi."

She looked back down at the book when Anna excused herself. She knew Jason and took classes with him but they weren't friends. Acquaintances really. Besides, he was there for Anna not Basil, so why not get a head start on her reading. She rested her head on one of her hands and started to read about how to deal with minor burns. If Jason was going to hang around, it was probably best that she keep up with the lie.
~
Serena looked at him when he started to speak Italian. Well, try to. She laughed a little, "It was.... But I understood you!" she nodded, "You're welcome."

They walked into the Gym and Sebastian made comment to Gunner. She pursed her lips, "You might want to... not the stabbing his own leg part... but," She pointed as the two dummies he had dealt with in class. One of them still had the stake lodged inside of it, "He is good."

She retrieved a second stake, leaving her fake one on her waist. She didn't want to get caught without it. She walked back to Sebastian as he asked how to stand. She looked at him, measuring him. She stuck her foot between his feet and moved them slightly. She nodded, "Like this.... It is the best position for you... but you might not be able to get to it. We will work with different stances... later."

She handed him the stake, her fingers wrapping his around the handle, "You remember what we worked on last time?"

She pointed at their dummy, un-staked, "If you can stake him more than ten times... In three different positions... I will fight you... let you try and stake a moving target that fights back," She smiled at him, "Sound good?"
~
Gunner glanced at the door when Anna and the others walked in. He looked at the guy with his arm around her shoulder. That was fast. Really fast. She had just kissed him and now she was off walking with a guy with his arm around her. Jealousy flared him in but he didn't look away, even as Anna slipped off to help Basil. He caught a look pass over Jason's face. Annoyance, maybe? What the hell did he have to be annoyed about?! Gunner's blood was boiling as he looked away from the guy and focused back on their surroundings. Seeing but not seeing.

He looked down at Anna when she approached him, he hadn't noticed that she left the little group over there. He nodded curtly to her, removing his eyes to look back around the room, "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Anna shifted uncomfortably on her feet, "Because you seem angry..." She rubbed the back of her neck and then glanced at Gabby who seemed to be pointedly ignoring them. She knew Gunner well enough to know that during his time as a Guardian wasn't the best time to approach him about anything that didn't regards to work but she couldn't stand feeling like he was angry at her.

She tugged at her hair, "Look, what I said earlier... about Jace... I..." She looked at Gabby and again felt anxious but if she didn't get this of her chest now she wasn't going to... besides. Gabby was talking away at some other Moroi girl across from her and they were far enough away so that watching wasn't inconvenience to her. "He's nice and all... but we're just friendly... he likes me but..." She took another breath, "Look Gunner, I like you. I've liked you since middle school I just didn't really want to admit it to myself, much less to you." She glanced back at Basil, keeping an eye on her despite talking to Gunner. "I should never have kissed you, not because I don't feel that way about you but because it doesn't change anything... You are all about your duty and I understand why... and I understand that that means that we can't BE anything... other than friends."

She took a breath again, "Jace is just-"

Speaking of Jace... "Hey Anna, is... everything okay?"

She glanced behind her, Jace seemed worried and she nodded. "Yeah sure... just... catching up."

He looked at Gunner before nodding, "Yeah... you two are friends right? Anna's a great girl, I keep telling her what a catch she'd be but I doubt I have much of a shot."

Anna shifted uncomfortably again, "I'm um... going back to Basil..." Anna headed that way and Jace turned back to go after her, but cast a smirk at Gunner first before going after her. It was obvious what he'd just done... he'd made sure that the two of them couldn't talk in depth about their feelings which kept Jace at Anna's side.

~*~

Sebastian blinked, "He just left it there... that's a little sloppy for Gunner. He's usually so put together..." All of this was painting a more unsettling picture.

As Serena moved his feet the way that she wanted and then grinned. "I remember... it's just whether or not I can do it again."

He blinked, "That sounds exciting but I suspect you'd hand me my ass... For someone so pretty you're tough as hell."

He didn't even really register that he'd called her pretty, probably because he was trying to go back to the stance she'd shown him. He tried to remember what she'd shown him the day before and lunged, driving the stake forward but it didn't even get close to going all the way through. He grimaced, he'd hit a fake rib. "I don't think I did that right..."

Gunner took a deep as Anna spoke. He was mad at her but more so at himself. He could have been Moroi or not care about being a Guardian. Any of that would mean he could kiss her right now. Of course, he couldn't. He wasn't even too pleased with her talking to him, even if for the most part he really liked what she was saying. She was about to say something about Jace when he popped up behind her, god this guy was really annoying. He started to talk about Anna being a catch as he doubt of having a chance. Gunner smirked, "You wouldn't."

Anna excused herself and Jace followed her. Gunner was left back to seeing but not seeing. He only felt a little better about what happened. Anna liked him and he was the ass that was keeping them apart. Then to add to it, he hated this Jace guy and didn't want him anywhere near her... He wasn't sure if it was just Jace though. He'd probably hate any guy who tried to flirt with Anna. He wanted to be with her, but couldn't, but he didn't want anyone else to be with her. He was a grade A douche.
~
Basil looked up from her book when Anna returned, "Hey! Did you know that putting water on burns is actually pretty helpful? Too bad my element is earth."
~
Serena was a little stunned when he called her pretty. She bit the inside of her lip as he stabbed the dummy and failed. She smiled at him and shook her head, "You didn't," She walked over to him and pulled the stake out. She looked at him, "I think that a Strigoi will do more than hand you your.... um.... ass."

She placed the stake back in his hands. She took one of his arms into her hands, "You aren't aiming right... Since you don't have the strength that Dhampirs do, aim is very important. She moved his arm so that the tip touched where he should be aiming. She moved his arms through the movements, one at time then stepped back as he went to stake it, "You be pro at staking when you try it on me, promise."

She waved her hand, inviting him to try and stab the dummy again.

Two months went by and where that might seem like a short time, for Anna it seemed to drag on and on. She and Gunner weren't the same, she suspected they'd NEVER be the same, and that knowledge left her hollow and hurting. Seb had discovered what had happened, there really wasn't any way to keep something from him that he REALLY wanted to know so she hadn't seen the point in keeping her and Gunner's mutual misery a secret. It wasn't that they were torturing each other, not like Seb and Anya had, it was that they really and truly didn't see a way they could make it work... Anna could see a way, but not without forcing Gunner to let go of the honor that made her like him so much... She'd never make Gunner change for her, there was just no way.

As time went on the awkwardness that was their friendship got worse and worse till Anna wasn't sure what to say to him anymore and because Seb was spending most of his time training with Serena, that left Anna on her own so to speak. Jace was the only thing filling the holes in her time and making her feel less miserable. She started spending more and more time with him and in turn that meant spending more and more time with other Moroi like Rae... She wasn't sure how or why it happened but slowly she stopped feeling so tense around all of them and started loosening up, if you could call it that. She started skipping out on some of her classes, going to parties, wearing clothes that were completely NOT her style... but Jace liked them and so she'd TRIED liking them too and slowly... Well, she'd discovered she liked feeling like a girl... like she was sexy... desirable... but still there was that ache because even if she was desired it wasn't by the one person she WANTED to desire her.

She told herself she was happy with Jace, that because he made her laugh and gave her butterflies that maybe it'd grow into something more... intense... something like what she felt with Gunner... when she looked at Gunner. Still, even at her most passionate with Jace... he still only managed butterflies, heat, and a little tingle along her skin that was mixed with a nervousness and discomfort she couldn't place. She'd pushed the nervous discomfort aside till she hadn't felt it anymore, or she told herself she didn't and if she did that it was just because she was a virgin and any kind of passionate activity made her nervous. Still, she was getting headaches more and more often lately... and sometimes she couldn't remember short bits of the day before. She put it off on the bites... Oh... right...

Jace had started biting her... Oh, it was only on occasion and only in the heat of the moment during one of their make-out sessions. It was just a substitute, she told herself, a way to not have sexy time just yet because she wasn't ready for that this early in the relationship... The idea made her queasy and anxious and she wasn't sure why being bitten didn't make her feel dirty... like it used to... even when she'd done it to help her family. Maybe it was because of the way Jace looked at her afterwards, the way he smiled... She told herself that's what it was, it was because Jace cared about her and that made the difference... but she wasn't sure. Honestly, as ashamed as it made her feel... she was pretty sure that part of the reason she was letting him bite her was the way it made her forget about everything else... the way it made her not feel so hurt and empty... the way it made her feel like someone else... Someone powerful and pretty...

She and Basil had become very good friends, the Moroi girl had been a quick study and she was now pretty good at defending herself against Anna's attacks. They spent most of their time gossiping and Anna TRIED not to get jealous anytime Basil brought Gunner up. It appeared the girl had a crush on him and though it KILLED Anna... she tried to be supportive of it. It would be good for Gunner... it would be good for her so she could move on.

"Anna... I asked you a question," the voice was amused and it belonged to Jace.

"Huh?"

He chuckled, "Still in lala land? I asked you if you wanted to go to the Halloween Ball with me?"

Anna WAS still a bit groggy, she pulled the bracelette back on and bit her lip... "I don't know if it's really my thing..." He smiled and she felt herself cave, "Yeah... of course."

"Good, I have just the gown for you."

She smiled indulgently and rubbed at her tender wrist beneath the thick velvet of the bracelette as the bell rang for lunch to end. They'd been around the side building of the dorms, in the shadows. "Shit... If I'm late again I'll get detention!"

"Go go!"

She took off at a sprint and made it into the gym's locker room JUST in time before the late bell rang seconds later. She spotted Serena still a bit dizzy, "Hey!"

Serena heard Anna's voice and quickly pulled her shirt down, ensuring that she hadn't seen any on her neck. However, when she turned to look at the girl, she was pretty sure it didn't matter. Living in a commune it got pretty easy to pick out blood whores, the distant look in their eyes and well, the giant bruise on their neck was always a give away. Anna didn't have any markings on her neck but Serena could tell something... was wrong. It wasn't just the clothes she was wearing or the skipping class, that look in her eyes, that distant look. It terrified Serena, she'd seen it before, in herself. Serena could only guess that it was Jace... Maybe it was different when it was with someone you cared about. Maybe it was different when you wanted it but it still made Serena's hands shake, "Hi..."

She looked at Anna's wrist, "You... are not allowed... to wear bracelets in practice...." Serena had a feeling that that was wear Jace was biting her. She walked over to her and one hand took Anna's wrist before the other reached up and pulled her sleeve over top of it, "No one.... has to know..."

She gave her friend a small smile, "We should go."

She tucked her hair up into her bun and walked into the Gym. Gunner caught sight of her and Anna, "Good to see you'll actually have someone to fight."

"Gun..." Serena said softly, silently pleading him to stop. He had suggested that she shorten his name when she was continually struggling with the pronunciation. He was still a little ticked about everything that had happened between him and Anna. It radiated off of him and it was clear that he did not like the changed Jason was making to her. She grabbed Anna's hand and dragged her away from her old friend. When she turned to her, she bit her lip, "We should not spar... You are... um... dizzy... I do not want to hurt you..."

Gunner watched the two girls walk away. Sebastian hadn't been able to figure out whether or not Jason was using any compulsion. He'd confessed to Gunner that Jace was a Spirit user when he was at his ultimate low. He'd actually been sent to fight a punching bag that week, as he was deemed to volatile after nearly breaking a kid in half. He'd gotten better, back to Robot Guardian, keeping his emotions far from him when he was fighting. Robot Guardian had started to slip into his every day life as well though. He remained stoic through almost everything and rarely cracked a smile. Now, he was just watching Anna slip away from him. The person he had the crush on was gone, maybe that was a good thing but he didn't like it.

He turned to his partner and the two started to spar. Anything to keep his mind off Anna.

Serena's words made her heart lurch and when she reached for her wrist she went to jerk away but wasn't fast enough... Still, instead of yanking it off her Serena just pulled her sleeve down over it. Suddenly, she felt very very dirty and ashamed. Anna rubbed the back of her neck, "Serena... I-" but the other girl was already tugging her upstairs... Probably expecting her to bail on class again. Honestly, she'd been bailing because she couldn't deal with seeing Gunner looking at her the way he did... Angry and hurt, like it was HER fault that they couldn't be together. She could deal with a lot of things... but not with Gunner hating her. So, she'd abandoned class on quite a few occasions and practiced in the woods instead... when she wasn't with Jace.

As they passed Gunner and he spoke Anna cringed, her head dropping and her hair dangling in her face to guard her and keep him from seeing how much his words stung... Though it was probably evident in the way her shoulders sagged. As Serena tugged her away from Gunner Anna decided she didn't want to be here after all, but Serena's words made her focus on the fact that if she didn't try to make up for lost time she would never have a good Ward... She was no longer set on it being Seb though, that would be Gunner's go to and she... didn't think either of them would handle having to work together well anymore. Better that she let Serena take her place on that one... maybe she could guard Jace or Basil instead.

Anna sighed, "No, you need to NOT take it easy on me. I need to take this seriously again... for my family. Time to quit moping... at least in this much..."

Anna squared off with Serena and they began. The dizziness wore off, Dhampir healing taking care of it quickly enough since Jace hadn't taken much anyway. She managed to block a few blows but one nasty one caught her in the ribs and she stumbled back with a grimace... it had been sloppy of her to let the attack through. "No worries, just rusty... Keep going." After a bit Anna fell back into her old rhythm but her ribs, arms, and legs were going to have some very very nasty bruises. Serena was good, and unlike Anna she hadn't been missing out on practice. After being 'staked' at least a dozen times Anna had still only managed to 'stake' Serena a grand total of three times.

"I'm sorry... I can do better... I'm just, not quite all here at the moment. You deserve a better sparring partner, Old Anna would have given you a run for your money."

She rubbed her wrist where she'd blocked with it a couple times... it was hurting and she was sure the bruised skin was only just now fading back to a normal shade. Multiple bites in the same place could leave some nasty discoloration and bruising after a while. She'd had to take to wearing wide thick bracelettes because the bruising was pretty bad. "Let's go again..."

She took her stance once more and they went at it, fake stakes in hand. When the bell finally rang Anna caught Serena's arm, "Hey um... don't... don't tell the others okay? It's just a thing... between Jace and I. I don't want to, y'know... have sexy time and this is kinda... a substitute. Others would think he was using me or something... and it's... it's not like that..." Except she sounded like she was trying to convince herself. "I... better find Basil..."

Anna headed out of the class and as she past Gunner she again ducked her head and let her hair block him out, she didn't feel like being judged... she wanted to feel pretty, competent, and not so damn guilty again... and she knew who could make her feel that way.... who could help her forget it... forget the way Gunner's comments and that disapproving look had made her feel. She almost ran chest to chest into Basil in her haste to escape Gunner and Serena, "Sheesh! Oops, sorry Basil..."

Serena was very hesitant about fighting Anna. As much as the girl told her not to take it easy on her, she couldn't help it. Every time she hit the girl, she cringed. She didn't like fighting her like this. When they stopped after Serena 'staked' Anna yet again, she bit her lip, "Maybe."

She watched as she rubbed her wrist and found herself rubbing her neck. When she insisted they go again, she nodded and obliged. When the bell rang, Serena was about to leave when Anna caught her arm and asked her not to tell anyone. She nodded, "O-okay..." She knew that if Sebastian really wanted to know, he'd find out and she wasn't really sure... that she wanted to keep it from him. It was nice having someone know her secret, she felt comfortable about him. With Anna, now that she realized what was happening with the girl. She felt uncomfortable. It wasn't the girl's fault though, it was Serena. Her own past playing into what was happening. Serena had never had someone like that that she'd let do that. However, thinking about Anna letting someone, it brought back memories Serena didn't want to remember. She hugged herself as Anna left the room. She stood there for a little bit, feeling ill to her stomach. It was like standing in the feeders all over again. Or when the Guardian had pretended to bite her.

When she left the gym, her hands were trembling. She reached up and let her hair down over her neck, not wanting to think about what she was hiding. She was supressing a small panic attack when she found Sebastian. He never made things go away but she always felt a little better around him. She nodded her head, her arms still wrapped around herself, "Ciao..."
~
Basil gasped a little when she ran right into Anna. She looked down at her, "Oh, I'm sorry... I didn't know if you'd be here or not and well...." Gunner walked passed without looking at them before ducking into the boys' locker room, "I like the view."

She giggled and grabbed Anna's hand, "So, are you going to protect me or trade with Jordan and run off with lover boy?"

Anna smiled at Basil, usually she did run off with Jace but today... Well, Serena seeming to catch on to her secrets made her feel a little less like seeing Jace and a little more like spending time with someone who wouldn't treat her like dinner.... Woah, where had that come from? Jace didn't treat her like dinner... he was always kind to her, right? Sweet even... She shrugged, "Not today. I figure we need practice and by we I mean I... You're good enough at blocking and dodging attacks now that I could probably spar a little with you and... today's training class didn't go so well. I've been slacking off too much I think."

She walked with Basil towards the woods, "That dance is tomorrow night isn't it? Are you going? Please tell me you are...don't abandon me to Rae, Gabby, and Jace. I don't think I could take it for the whole night on my own."

She thought about it, "Also, what are you going as?"

~*~

Sebastian spotted Serena as she headed over, she looked decidedly upset about something. "Hey Little Dhampir," he'd taken to calling her that lately. "You okay?"

Over the last two months he'd noticed that around Serena the darkness didn't bother him as much, not even really at all unless he did something with Spirit that triggered it and even then she hung with him through the moods and often made him laugh in spite of them. It was good to have someone around that could do that, especially since Anna and Gunner... who were usually the ones cheering him up, were being such downers recently. Gunner was stuck on duty and bitter with Anna for pointing it out and for spending time with another guy when that couldn't happen between them and Anna was down because Gunner was so angry and she was still hung up on him despite Jace.

Her change in behavior, however, bothered him. It wasn't just a result of her depression, it was something else too.... Seb was pretty sure that Jace was compelling her but he couldn't prove it and knew that even saying he MIGHT be to Gunner would set the guy off and suggesting it to Anna would only make her defensive. Serena had been his light in the dark in their place and honestly... he'd started seeing her... REALLY seeing her... and she was beautiful. It made him feel guilty, beyond guilty even, because Anya hadn't went Strogoi (if she WAS strigoi) willingly. Still, he knew what not being honest had cost him in the end so he'd been flirting... subtly for the past month or so. Spending more time with her and buying her little things... like an inexpensive charm bracelette that wouldn't make her feel awkward which he'd said had been for training him and putting up with his crazy self for so long.

He put an arm around her shoulders, "You look upset..." and he didn't just mean her face. He could hear a hum of something, this close... with their auras touching. The background noise of her thoughts that if he tried hard enough he'd be able to hear but he kept his walls in place most times. Now, however... he could FEEL there was something she didn't want him knowing... something about Anna. He frowned, he didn't want to push her but... it felt important. "Everything okay with you and Anna?"

Basil walked with Anna out to the forest, beyond excited to actually get back to training. She hadn't wanted to bring it up with Jordan at first, not fully sure how he'd react. After awhile though, the guy seemed to care so little for the rules, she had suggested. She preferred training with Anna though, she took it seriously, where Jordan just mainly goofed off. She laughed when Anna asked if she was going to the dance, "Of course I am!" She wrapped her arms around Anna, "Lets be honest though, it wouldn't matter if I did, you'd be off with Jace all night."

She pursed her lips when she asked what she was going to go as, "I don't know! I haven't been able to think of anything! Maybe like an angel or something... You got to help me. Toss up some ideas later?"
~
Serena looked up at Sebastian and nodded her head a little when he asked if she was okay. She felt his arm snake around her shoulders as he mentioned that she looked upset. Then, she surprised herself a little. She moved slightly, and placed the side of her face against his chest and placed her hands on his hips in a halfhearted hug. She felt better like this as she closed her eyes. When he asked if everything was fine with her and Anna, she nodded, "Ya..." She had a feeling he knew to ask about Anna for a reason. This was the second secret now that she was keeping from her friends for Anna. The strigoi thing, she understood and maybe some people would think that Jace was taking advantage of her. However, Serena didn't want something to happen to Anna because she didn't tell anyone. She looked up at Sebastian, "I am not supposed to tell you... Or anyone...."

She bit her lips and looked down at her hands, that had moved away from Sebastian and were now plucking at her nails, "It is about... Jace... and her wrist..."

She didn't want to say it out loud. She didn't think that she could. She leaned back into Sebastian, hoping he would understand, "I... do not like it.... It... is.... too close to home..."

Surely, he understood what she was talking about. Realizing what she was doing, she took a step back and away from me, "Mi dispiace..." She closed her eyes tightly, "I... I do not feel well... I think I am..." She met Sebastian's eyes, "Lie down..."

Sebastian didn't step away as she leaned into him, it was... a pleasant surprise. He actually put his arms around her, if a little hesitant that he would scare her off by doing so. As she explained Seb felt ice coil tightly in the pit of his stomach... Anna was letting Jason bite her?! That wasn't like her at ALL and it was something that had to stop... he wouldn't let someone take advantage of his friends distress. Anna was depressed enough without being addicted to the bite... it was easy to get that way when you were in a bad place in your life anyway but he'd never expected it of Anna... She was constantly going on and on about how nieve a dhampir girl would have to be to believe that a moroi male would bite her for any reason more than his own satisfaction...

He looked back down at Serena as she pulled away and frowned, taking her hand and feeling it shake. He knew what that was... and even if he couldn't completely take it away, he could help her feel better. He pushed the light and warmth that was the healing part of Spirit at her and eased the edge off the withdraw... "Easy Little Dhampir... that's never going to happen to you again... and we're going to help Anna... somehow..." He grimaced, if he approached her about it he knew Anna would just get defensive. If Serena went to her about it then it put HER in a bad position what with her past... He saw another way... but not a way he'd have chosen if there was another one.

"Anna isn't going to be happy but I'll tell her I read it from you, that's not a lie... I did read something... but... I think I'm going to have to talk to her.... Either way, we should avoid telling Gunner about this." He took a breath, "I'll try talking to her first, hopefully that will help... if not... this could get ugly fast... I know Anna is going to the dance tomorrow night." He'd already meant to ask Serena but had been nervous about it... Maybe he should feel guilty but this gave him the perfect excuse to do so. "Will you go to the dance with me...? Not just because of Anna... I think you'd make a wonderful date. If... I'm not too forward."

~*~

Anna laughed, "Maybe..." She considered what Basil would look like as an angel and shook her head with a grimace. "Too sweet... Hmmm... You'd make a good devil though," she teased.

She paused in the woods and indicated how Basil should stand, Anna took her stance as well... She took it slow starting off, letting Basil get the hang of the back and forth of sparring... and then actually picked up pace.

~*~

The day ended, it wasn't very eventful after they all retreated to their dorms... Plus, most everyone was excited for the dance the next day. Everyone had spent their time talking about what they'd be going as. Since it was a weekend, there would be no classes and so Anna spent most of her day brooding and trying to decide what she was going to do as far as make-up. It was a good thing she'd warned Basil off of being an angel or they both would have ended up as one. Apparently, Jace had thought it clever to use a costume that went with her name 'Angelina'. It was also what he'd been calling her the past month... Angel instead of Anna... or Ross.... The remembrance of those nicknames hurt and she pushed it away, pulling on the long white and silver gown that clung to her like a second skin and slit up the side all the way to the hip. She wore silver heels and the silver necklace and earrings that Anya had given her. The feathery wings were attached to the dress and her halo attached to a silver headband. She didn't think that the halo or the wings looked right on her... She wasn't really 'angel' material... but the way the dress was made did accent her curves beautifully.

She wore a corsage over her wrist... which had a fresh bite on it from when she'd seen Jace earlier to get her costume. She wondered what he was going to be... She headed out of her room after doing her makeup and headed towards the gym where the ball was being held. She slipped the white and silver paper mache mask on and stepped inside... spotting Sebastian who was dressed as a cheshire cat. He had purple and pink cat ears poking out from his fedora, a purple and pink cat tail that poked out from the tails of his tuxedo vest. He wore pink and purple striped fingerless gloves and he'd used black face paint to paint a 'stitched' grin onto one side of his face, the upper half of the other side saw his eye covered with a vivid yellow 'cats eye' contact with slitted pupil and the same black face paint used to give that eye an almond cat shape to the shape of his eye as well. The upper part with the eye was colored purple, the lower part with the mouth was colored pink. It was... pretty epic actually.

What seemed like forever ago they might have all dressed in a theme to match... She could see Gunner being the Mad Hatter, herself maybe being the red queen.... Anya being Alice... She sighed wistfully and spotted Jace with Rae. He was dressed all in black, eyeliner under the already intense blue eyes. He wore his own fedora tipped low over eyes that she could now see were actually covered in red contacts. He had dark circles colored under his eyes and blood at the corner of his mouth and Anna... didn't think it was funny at all because obviously... he was supposed to be a Stigoi. He was getting lots of complements from everyone else but Anna felt... sick... instead of going to him she headed to the drink table and avoided the spiked punch in favor of ice water.

Serena walked through the crowd of people looking for Sebastian. Had he not explained his costume to her before, she probably never would have found him. She wore a strap less white dress with a petticoat, causing the shirt to bounce out and little checkered stocking that rose up to her knees. She reached up an touched the rabbit ears that were attached to her white and gold mask. Her hand traveled to her hair that was hanging loosely around her shoulder and finally that little gold lace necktie that was the only thing hiding her scars from the party goers. She tugged at her little red vest when she spotted Sebastian. She smiled happily, glad to see that she had managed to find him.

She walked over to him and pulled out a gold pocket watch from her vest pocket, "Sorry I am late."

She smiled at him, the Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit. She hadn't really been sure about the themed costume but Sebastian had really wanted to do it and she didn't mind. They managed to pull somethings together from her own closet and, well, she wasn't really sure where Sebastian had gotten the rest. She stood in front of him a little awkwardly and bit her lip, "Shall we wait for a slow song?" She smiled, remembering when they had danced at the party at the beginning of the year.
~
Gunner walked into the dance hall and grimaced. He wasn't one for parties ever but Sebastian had forced him to come, saying that he wasn't going to allow him to mope in his room while everyone was having fun. This was not Gunner's idea of fun. He was dressed in a black blazer and a white shirt. Guardian clothing. He didn't feel like dressing up this year, it had always been Anya and Anna could had stuffed him into the ridiculous costumes and well, he didn't think Sebastian and Serena wanted to even try. He adjusted his plain black mask and started to look through the crowd when he spotted Jace. His blood boiled and it wasn't just because this guy was with Anna, who he didn't actually see around. He walked, no stormed over to the guy and glared at him, "What the hell do you think you are wearing?"