Hey guys, this is my first stab at this lol, may not be that good but please please please read and review, especially if yyou think Cam has a softer side to him. All comments welcome, the good abd the awful.

Chapter 1

So this time its reform kids huh, this life may not be so far from reality after all, I thought as I stood and listened to the rules of Sword and Cross getting more bored by the minute and waiting anxiously for her to arrive. This time I wanted to see her first, be with her first. It rarely happened in the past but whenever it did I almost had her convinced and then Grigori would come into the picture and it would be pointless trying after that. Of course, it didn't matter much after that because she never lived long enough for them to even try again. Sigh, stupid, stupid, stupid curse and stupid, stupid, stupid me also for not being able to stay away from her even though I really should.

Suddenly I heard the doors open and in she tumbled. Even with her hair short as it was now, she looked so beautiful. I watched her as she listened to Randy, taking in all her features, she looked so much alike in every life, and it was sometimes unbelievable. Then I heard her talk and I got pulled out of my imaginations which included her wrapped in my arms.

"Could you, uh, could you repeat that?" she asked the attendant, "What was it, meds—?"

"Well, look what the storm blew in," the attendant said loudly, then continued, enunciating slowly: "Meds. If you're one of the medicated students, this is where you go to keep yourself doped up, sane, breathing, whatever."

"Got it. Meds." She looked strange as she said the word, then I remembered the difficulties she had in this life with the therapists she had to see and the reason shed had been sent here. She looked around, from far away I heard Gabbe introduce herself, then she looked at the other new kid and finally at me. I saw her looking me over and when she met my eyes, I held her gaze, not giving her a chance to look away. I knew my green eyes were looking very lively right now; they always did when I saw her for the first time, and I saw her suck in a breath and then heard Randy clearing her throat as she noticed the way we were locked on each others gaze. A beautiful blush crept up Lucinda's face and she looked away as Randy continued.

"Those of you who've learned the ropes are free to go after you dump your hazards." The attendant gestured at a large card-board box under a sign that said in big black letters PROHIBITED MATERIALS, "And when I say free, Todd"—she clamped a hand down on the other kid's shoulder, making him jump—"I mean gymnasium-bound to meet your preassigned student guides. You"—she pointed at Luce—"dump your hazards and stay with me."

Four of us approached the box and started to empty out our pockets while Luce stood with a baffled look on her face. Gabbe pulled out a three-inch pink Swiss Army knife. I reluctantly dumped a can of spray paint and a box cutter. Todd let loose several books of matches and a small container of lighter fluid. When Luce saw us putting our cell phones in, she looked most uncomfortable. She checked her phone once more then seemed to get lost in a dream world of her own, she looked so sad I wanted nothing but to go over and comfort her, but I couldn't do that now, not yet.

"We're still waiting on one person," the attendant sang. "I wonder who it is." Luce's attention snapped back to the Hazard Box. I was staring at her trying to figure out what she was feeling and resisting the urge to go to her. She closed her eyes and slowly opened her fingers, letting her phone slip from her grasp and land with a sad thunk on top of the heap. Letting go of the phone seemed to have hurt her so much, almost too much for me to stand.

Todd and the Gabbe headed for the door without so much as a look in Luce's direction, but I turned to Randy. "I can fill her in," I said, nodding at her.

"Not part of our deal," she replied automatically, as if she'd been expecting this dialogue. "You're a new student again—that means new-student restrictions. Back to square one. You don't like it, you should have thought twice before breaking parole."

She pulled Luce away, not before I saw her stiffen at the word "parole".

I walked across the grounds thinking about her, so absorbed that I didn't notice Gabbe waiting just inside the other building for me.

"Don't even think about it Cam, I saw the way you looked at her and you know it can't happen either way." She was giving me a stern look as she said it.

"It isn't decided yet Gabbe, can't you tell it's different this time. I'm not going to stop or give up just yet. Sorry to disappoint you." I turned my back and walked away from her and through another door just to be caught by Mr. Cole. Apparently they didn't trust me because they checked me again for hazards then handed it back to me to take to the box. I walked out and there she was again, looking at me questioningly.

I shook my head and said to Luce, "This place isn't afraid to do a strip search. So if you're packing any other hazards"—Iraised an eyebrow and dumped a handful of unrecognizables in the box—"save yourself the trouble."

Behind Luce, Arriane laughed under her breath. My gaze shot upwards hearing that. I knew she also wanted me to stay away from Luce but wouldn't say anything now so I didn't either. "Arriane," I said evenly. "Cam," she returned. Then she dragged Luce away before I could say anything more.

I knew I had her in my afternoon class so I wasn't worried, I would find her again and hopefully Grigori's gang wouldn't interfere. It wasn't that I hated Daniel; I thought as I waited outside my next class, we were once so close, we were brothers, are still brothers. Our sides are different now though, very different. That was the sadness of being a fallen angel, one minute you know exactly what to stay away from, what not to interfere with and then you fall and feel as the humans do and anything can rip you apart. Even the most powerful seem weak now, that's what falling does to you, that's what human feelings does to you, and you even forget your family once you turn.

Just then the bell went for afternoon classes to begin. With a sigh I got up and moved into the classroom. I noticed some of the guys I had known when I was enrolled here before and they immediately clustered around me to talk about the probation and what I had been up to. Then she came in with Arriane, looking slightly flustered and confused but taking in all of her surroundings. Arriane was floating around as usual and when she passed me I noticed something was different. Playfully I tousled her knowing only one person could have done it for her.

"Nice mop, Arriane, my compliments to your stylist." She swatted me away and jerked her head in Luce's direction as she said, "Hands off, Cam. Which is to say: In your dreams. And you can give your compliments to my new pet, right over there."

I looked at her and she noticeably stiffened, "I believe I will," I said, and started walking toward her. I smiled at her hoping to seem friendly but also trying to let her know that I was also interested in being more than just her friend. "Us new kids have to stick together," I said. "Know what I mean?"

"But I thought you'd been here before."

"Don't believe everything Arriane says." I looked back at Arriane and could see she was watching us suspiciously and I could guess the reason why. She was on Grigori's side and everyone on Grigori's side was naturally on the opposite side of me and they also wanted Luce as far away from me as possible.

"Oh no, she didn't say anything about you," Luce said quickly.

"I remember when I was a new kid here . . . the first time." I laughed to myself. "My band had just broken up and I was lost. I didn't know anyone. I could have used someone without"—I glanced at Arriane—"an agenda to show me the ropes."

"What, and you have no agenda?" Luce said, it was easily noticeable that she was flirting with me which made me feel a lot better and made me smile what I knew must be a dazzling smile. "And to think I didn't want to come back here."

A lovely blush had began to spread up her cheeks as I pulled the seat next to her closer and sat down while gazing at her adoringly. She truly never knew the depth of the love I felt for her. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a green guitar pick with the number 44 printed on it. "This is my room number. Come by anytime."

As she took in the guitar pick, clearly at a loss for words, Arriane clamped a hard hand down on my shoulder. "I'm sorry; did I not make myself clear? I've already called dibs on this one."

I snorted, they really wanted me further this time, and clearly something was different. I looked straight at Luce as I said, "See, I thought there was still such a thing as free will. Maybe your pet has a path of her own in mind." She looked as if she was about to reply when we heard the door open as Mr. Cole came in and we all moved to our desks. I couldn't help sneaking a few glances at her during the lesson, she really is that beautiful. In all her lives she had been beautiful but in this one she shone with an intensity that couldn't be explained.