Nephriel

Vampire Academy

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?"

Vampire Academy ~ Rememberance

Anna laughed at Gunner and then as they all made themselves comfy she yanked Gunner down beside her on the floor and bumped shoulders with him. "I like this movie..." They'd settled on Blade, simply because their idea of vampires was... well... interesting. They were pretty close to Strigoi though, and the fight scenes were so over done they were kinda hilarious. It probably drove Gunner's knowledge of fighting crazy, half the stuff didn't work anything like the way they portrayed it. She yawned a little, "Huh... that stuff they use to make the guy explode at the end... it would be nice if that worked on Strigoi."

She leaned her head on Gunner's shoulder till the movie ended, "Well... if we go back to classes now we'll just get a write up. Any ideas on what else we could do?"

Seb considered, "Well, the whether is pretty warm so I bet the lake is warm. We could go swimming... It would kill some time and keep us away from the Guardians."

Vampire Academy

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..."

Vampire Academy

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...

Vampire Academy

Jordan laughed good naturedly, "Don't worry, I'm a complete gentleman... hands to myself and all that."

He smiled at her suggestion, "Yeah sure, why not." He was an easy going guy and it sounded like fun, "You on the Moroi side and me on the Dhampir side then?"

He tucked his hands back into his pocket with a wink, "See you there..."

He headed towards the Dhampir dorms and wondered whether she'd play fair or head for the kitchen from where she was. He didn't mind either way, he wouldn't mind her winning. He was competitive about some things but mostly he was too laid back to worry about it when he lost to someone pretty.

Once he made it to his side he began his way back and towards the kitchens. He spotted a few Guardians here and there but managed to avoid them. He had the luck of not running into Guardian Belikov either and was soon at the kitchen, leaning against the door and looking around for Niya... wondering if she'd made it first.

~*~

Anna followed Serena home in relative silence, she was close to passing out and was having to focus on one foot in front of the other. Once inside she sat down on her bed and looked up at Serena. "You're different than her you know? The same in some ways but mostly different. Deep down your strong and Anya... Anya was fragile, always." She frowned, it was hard to think... "That's why we can't bring her back... she'd be broken..." She nodded and patted Serena's arm, "You're helping Seb, he's been sad... you make him laugh..."

She curled up on her side, eyes closing... "I'm glad you came..."

And with that she was asleep... heavily.

~*~

Sebastian laughed at Gunner and then looked at his phone... He sighed, "Looks like I am your chaperone after all, and I'm sleeping in your room... My roommate is... otherwise engaged."

Gunner looked about as wobbly on his feet as Anna had so he carefully kept hold of the guys arm so he wouldn't fall over. "Off we go..."

Once back to Gunner's room he helped him into his bed and collapsed onto the empty one. Gunner had gotten lucky... no roomie. He wondered slightly at the change in Serena's aura... She'd been so happy earlier and then when she'd come back she'd been all grey again. Had something happened between her and Anna? He didn't think too much on it because he was asleep in short order.

Vampire Academy

Jordan shrugged, suddenly more interested in getting to know someone who'd lived in Russia. He could remember a little bit about it, it had been a beautiful place but life had had other plans for him that didn't include living there. "Nah, I'd rather talk to you..."

He was almost always honest to the point of being rude or blunt or seeming flirtatious because he didn't see the point in saying one thing when you meant something else. "Mm... friends tend to do that," he leaned down to her as if telling her a secret, "That's why I have so few."

He straightened and shrugged, "Well Kseniya," he shook her hand. "Я надеюсь, ваш первый день был один хороший..., и что ваше путешествие прошло хорошо." He grimaced at the way he had to speak slowly and think on the words, "Sorry... it's been a while."

He gestured towards the school, "I don't know about you but... I could use a sandwich. Wanna join me? I'm sure we'll have to dodge a few Guardians on the way there but..." He shrugged with a smile, "that's half the fun."

~*~

Sebastian hesitated a minute and then sighed, "Yes... and she is... was... pretty much in denial about it. I think tonight was the first time she's let herself actually feel it and part of that was the drink. Tomorrow... well, if I know Anna, she'll act like she doesn't remember any of it and pretend nothing has changed because she'll be terrified of pulling away from her. So, unless you plan on changing your mind about relationships play along and let her believe you don't remember either."

He blinked, "Oh... here she comes. Damn, she's slammed... she actually might NOT remember it tomorrow." He hoped so, it would be so much easier on her if she didn't. Seb didn't think Gunner was going to change his mind about duty and Guardian relationships any time soon.

~*~

Anna nodded and stumbled back along with Serena, "I need to go to bed... I feel dizzy..." She leaned her head on Serena's shoulder as they walked, way too out of it to even begin to notice her scars even if she had been looking.

As they made it back to the other two Anna smiled and waved, "I'm gonna go sleep before I fall over..." She stumbled over to Seb and gave him a hug, "Don't worry... I'll make everything okay again. I promise."

She nodded solemnly and he looked confused, "Anna... what are you talking abo-"

She put a finger against his lips, "Shh... secret."

She pulled away and hugged Gunner too, "You're my best friend... I don't wanna puke on your shoes..." With that said she stumbled to a nearby tree and out of sight, but not earshot, spilled her stomach and then leaned against the tree with a groan of misery. "Serena... take me home please... I wanna sleep."

Vampire Academy

Jordan was never really on time for anything, he was never really in a hurry, so it wasn't a surprise that he was only now heading to the party to catch the tail end of it. He hadn't bothered really to dress up, wearing a normal pair of faded and distressed blue jeans and a grey t-shirt. and a beanie over his dark brown messy hair. He was too busy looking down at the music he was selecting on his ipod to see the girl headed his way and practically ran right into her. With surprise he tugged an earbud out of his ear and blinked grey blue eyes at her, "Sorry about that..."

He looked back the way she'd come, apparently she'd just been leaving the party he was getting ready to head to, "You bailing already? Where are your friends?"

His voice was semi accented and the accent would be one she'd recognize easily as Russian though it was almost completely gone by now... after all, he'd been living in the states since he was ten. His mother had been a Szlesky from the Russian branch of the family but his father had been American originally, thus the last name. "I'm Jordan by the way.... Jordan North. You are?"

She was kind of pretty... okay she was very pretty but he was more interested in the fact that she looked so lonely and kinda lost. He knew what that felt like, he kinda ran in his own circle. He didn't have any steady friends just a long stream of people he talked to sometimes...

~*~

Anna stumbled as Serena caught onto her and told her to head back, she smiled... "Oh, hey Serena... where's Seb? He'd laugh cuz I'm drunk..." She blinked at Serena's sudden seriousness and looked out into the night. "Whatsa matter?"

Serena didn't even make it all the way to the Wards... Anya couldn't restrain herself enough to wait that long. She suddenly just wanted to see the girl scream... So with a frightening speed she suddenly revealed herself, stopping right in front of Serena only a foot away where the Wards separated them. She snarled, fangs flashing as she gave a sick grin. "You think you can replace me little girl... ask Anna... ask Anna if you can replace me. He'll always be MINE, they will always be MINE."

Anna felt a tidal wave of ice shoot through her, effectively sobering her enough to feel the cold shock of seeing Anya this way with crystal clarity. Her best friend's once angelic sky blue eyes were tinged with red and her once fair skin that had constantly been flushed with some kind of blush from something one of them had said was now as pale as marble and marred in a snarl that Anya would have never worn in life. "Anya... No... no.... what did they do to you?"

She stumbled forward, half between Serena and Anya and not sure who she was protecting from whom. "We looked for you for so long..."

Anya laughed softly, "They made me stronger... stronger than I ever was in life. I'm not scared anymore... not scared of anything. No one would dare to lay hands on me now... and sooner or later you will all come to me... willingly." She snarled at Serena again, "Enjoy them while it lasts, they'll be mine again soon."

With that she took off back into the woods leaving Anna stunned. "Don't... don't tell Sebastian you saw her... EVER." The vehemence in Anna's voice and the dead seriousness in her face told Serena just how serious this was. "I'll talk to Gunner, we'll figure this out... we know she's close now. Maybe... maybe we can end it before Seb ever finds out. He'd get himself killed... trying to bring her back... but coming back from that for Anya, it would leave her broken... She'd never be okay again, she'd hate us."

She took a breath, "Please, don't ever tell him."

~*~

Sebastian sighed and looked at Gunner, "You're drunk... and glowing like a super nova... What happened between you and Anna?"

He looked semi-disapproving, "Because if you wake up regretting it tomorrow...." He sighed, Gunner was way to drunk to think about what he would and wouldn't be regretting so instead he patted Gunner on the back. "She was happy tonight... a lot happier than I've seen her in a while. Remember that..."

Vampire Academy ~ Rememberance

Anna gaped and punched him in the chest, "Shut up... how did you... they've been... ugh..."

She leaned against him and smiled, "Aww... they're so cute."

She elbowed him in the stomach lightly, "Now you just need to get a girlfriend so I can comment on how cute you two are... and probably hate her guts..." She considered, "Because you'd probably pick someone completely off the wall and I'd have to get along with her and she'd hate me because we're such good friends even though I'd keep telling her we're just friends. Then you'd get all distant cuz you didn't want to hurt her feelings and... Actually... maybe you shouldn't find a girlfriend. I like our uncomplicated friendship just the way it is... we can both be single Guardians too serious for relationships."

She nodded tersely before smiling at Anya, "Oh oh! Movie night! Skip classes day! We get to make Gunner break rules! I'm all for making Gunner break rules."

~*~

Sebastian smiled uncertainly at her but when she kissed his cheek and blushed like that he smiled. "You're adorable, of course I'll come watch movies with you."

He wrapped an arm around her and played with her hair a little as Anna got overly excited in her typical Anna fashion. "Watching Gunner breaking rules is one of my favorite pastimes too. He always goes so back and forth over having fun or being disapproving."

Vampire Academy

Anna blushed at his compliment and had to consider how that made her feel because it made her feel a lot of things honestly. She was sort of bright red as she smiled back at him, "It does... I didn't want to dress up but the dress had been in my closet for sooo long..." She tugged her hair down from the tie, it was cold out and her neck was chilly... plus she didn't ever get to wear it down much. She tugged her fingers nervously through it because Gunner was looking at her so... well so.... like that.

Her eyes landed on his again and drifted back to his mouth and for a moment she really considered kissing him... would he freak out? Why did she want to kiss him anyway, aside from his mouth being so... nice... She shook her head and laughed a little, "I think I'm drunk... very drunk..."

She moved so she was setting beside him and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "The woods are spinning... and it's cold." She pouted a little, "I shoulda brought a jacket... I don't think this dress was made to cover much..." She put a hand over her exposed belly and giggled again before leaning into him cuz he was warm and he smelled nice. Again, she caught herself looking up at him from under her eyelashes and she chewed her lip a little... that weird urge hitting her again except this time she put a hand on the side of his face and turned his head so he was looking down at her too. She leaned up, her lips hovering close to his.... and a wave of nausea hit her along with a sharp twinge of anxiety that kept her from completing the action even though she was so close she could feel the heat from his lips vaguely against hers. These two things combined made her feel well... not so great.

She pulled away frowning and stumbled to her feet, "I don't feel good..." she said by way of explanation before stumbling off towards the more private area of the woods so she could maybe puke... because she might really puke... really...

On her way she stumbled into Rae, almost literally falling into his chest with a soft 'eep' before she straightened herself up clumsily, "Sorry sorry..." She giggled a little before side stepping him so she could get back on her mission again to find somewhere to puke... if she still had to puke... did she still have to puke? She wasn't sure.

~*~

Sebastian laughed slightly as she apologized, "No worries... I like it hot..." He coughed when he realized how that sounded and actually blushed a little, "Err... hot places..." He grimaced again, "I like places that are warm, that's why I like the mornings... It's too early for the sunlight to sting so it's just... warm."

Why was he so nervous all of a sudden? The song ended and he again kissed the back of her hand with a bow, "Thank you for that."

As she noted off the places she'd like to go he nodded, "Those places sound nice... If I could I think I'd travel the world but I think my father might disown me before I ever manage to get my inheritance."

He led her back off the dance floor so to speak and looked around, "Where are Anna and Gunner? If they passed out somewhere it'll be a pain to try and find them..." Of course the other option was still there... The idea of them both getting smashed and making out somewhere made him nervous. If they remembered it they'd both be devastated tomorrow... neither one of them was ready for that kind of contact yet. They hadn't even accepted they actually LIKED each other yet. He grimaced, "We'd better find them... soon."

~*~

Anya snarled as she watched Seb kiss the back of Serena's hand but then noticed something else... Anna was wandering along the very edge of the wards. She was very obviously drunk as she ran into a Moroi boy she recognized as Rae. She was so close to the edge of the wards that Anya felt her dark magic fueled pulse pick up. If the boy let her go and she wandered just a little farther... "Come on Anna, you're so close... just a little more."

She noticed the dress that Anna was wearing and smiled, flashing fangs... "I knew you'd look fantastic in that dress. It's the perfect dress for your awakening... just come a little closer."

It didn't matter that Anna couldn't hear her, she was so intensely focused on her. If she could get Anna, then Gunner and Sebastian would have no choice but to come after her... and that meant leaving the wards. She could practically taste the female Dhampir's blood on her tongue already... "Just a little further..."

Vampire Academy ~ Rememberance

Seb blinked, he hadn't expected her to apologize. He shook his head and scratched the back of it nervously... "No, you were right. It wasn't fair of me to keep stringing you along and I wasn't mad... I just... I wanted to let you be happy, give you a chance at someone else who could make you happy..."

He shook his head, "But I don't want to see you with someone else either..." He groaned, "I'm not saying this very well... I... I want to try and make you happy. I want to try and be with you... even if it might not work... I might hurt you... but I want to try..."

He grimaced, "If... if you still want to I mean..."

~*~

As Anna and Gunner walked away she sighed, "Those two are hopeless... If I ever fall in love I'm just going to tell the guy, kiss him like crazy, and get it over with... Either he likes it or doesn't..." She shrugged.