Chapter One: Western Movies, Stats Quizzes and Gas Leaks - Oh My!
I smiled as I recognized Dimitri s tall frame sitting down at the table next to Ivan. Grabbing a tray of food similarly the same shade of grey, I rushed through the clumps of students and took a seat across from them.
"Hey guys," I greeted them.
"Oh, Maya, thank God you re here!" Ivan exclaimed, ignoring my friendly introduction. "Your timing is impeccable. Dimitri is going on about John Wayne."
I glanced over at Dimitri. "I m assuming my father brought you the movie?"
Ivan groaned and slammed his head against the table, which gained a few stares from other tables nearby. "And here I thought you were my savior," he muttered.
Dimitri disregarded Ivan s dramatic flair, continuing with our conversation. "Yeah, he said you haven t seen it yet. I was thinking about watching it tonight. You could join me if you want." His eyes regarded me in a friendly manner, but I knew more emotion hid underneath. He and I had been best friends ever since kindergarten when I wore cowboy boots to school on a dare, but our relationship had become steadily more and more confusing within the past year.
"Sure." I glanced at the ever-so-solemn Ivan. "You can come too," I invited him.
His head popped up immediately. "Did you seriously just invite me to watch a Western movie? Oh, that's classic." His grin reached ear-to-ear.
Well, just because Maya invited you doesn't mean I want you to come, Dimitri teased. Dimitri and I both knew Ivan couldn't be quiet during movies. It didn't bother me as much - mostly because I liked to talk during movies as well, but Dimitri prefered to watch films in complete silence.
"Doesn't matter because Maya gave me all the permission I need," Ivan countered, winking at me. Ivan was a natural flirt and particularly liked flirting with me. I didn't know exactly why, but a part of me found it amusing.
Dimitri did not. I could see his jaw clench and his whole body tense.
"Did any of you study for the statistics quiz?" I asked, changing the subject.
Both Ivan and Dimitri smirked. I never studied, but somehow miraculously retained A s in every single class. Photographic memory came in handy quite often in my life.
"Did you look at the book? If you did, I m sure you ll be fine." Ivan in particular liked to give me a hard time since he struggled in school. Of course, it was normally because of his interests in social events rather than studying. "Remind me to sit by you during the quiz today."
Just then, Viktoria - Dimitri's sister - ran up to our table.
"What are you doing on the high school campus?" Dimitri asked, slipping into his protective brother role.
"Apparently there's a gas leak and we might be getting out of school for a week while they fix the problem!" Viktoria enthusiastically announced, her cheeks flushing with excitement.
"Well, there's one way to get out of the stats quiz," Ivan muttered.
I smirked at him, but felt my stomach plummet to the soles of my feet. I did not want to go back home for a week. I didn't want to face my mother and her couple hundred Moroi partners she snuck around with when my father wasn't around. As weird as it sounded, St. Basil s was the only place to get away from the reality that was home.
"A gas leak?" Dimitri seemed apprehensive, as if he didn't quite believe it himself.
"That's what Mr. Schoenberg told me."
My attention went directly to Dimitri's little sister when she mentioned my father. "Where is he now?" I asked.
Viktoria pointed toward the other side of the cafeteria, where - sure enough - my father stood, discussing with other teachers. I rushed over to him and grabbed his arm. Of course, my father, being the legendary guardian he was, didn't seem bothered by my rough grip. Instead, he simply looked over at me and gave me his lopsided grin. "Oh no, school's getting out. When will you ever see Dimitri again?" Arthur Schoenberg was a man who appreciated the art of pestering, especially when it came to my relationship with Dimitri. In all honesty, I knew my father approved of Dimitri, but would never stop being protective of me.
"Cute, daddy. How long did it take you to think of that one?" I smirked at him, but after a few moments I turned sullen. "...Do I have to go back home?" I asked.
My father s gaze softened as he pulled me into his arms. "I know, honey, I know. Trust me, I'm not looking forward to finding out how many men have been visiting in the past three months."
"I hate her..." I whispered into his chest. "...Why do you love her?"
This question haunted me every day of my life. I couldn't imagine why such a successful guardian as my father would love the only and most disgusting Moroi blood whore in all of history.
"Maya, you're only 18 - you're too young to understand right now."
I broke away from his arms. "What do you mean I m too young?" I asked, my voice raising.
Other teachers looked our way. My father for once in his life looked sheepish. "Maya, I really don't think this is the appropriate time to have this conversation."
"Will it ever be the appropriate time?! God, it's like you can t even fess up that you make mistakes!" I tried to storm off, but my father grabbed my shoulder and turned me around so I faced him.
"It wasn't a mistake," he calmly stated. "Loving her wasn't a mistake because I gained you out of it. You are my world, Maya..."
My eyes began to water, but I fought hard to not let the tears fall down my face. "Then don t let me go back there."
"There's nothing I can do about that, Maya. I have to stay at the school and make sure everything goes smoothly with this gas leak problem."
I glared at him. This time I really stormed off.
And Arthur Schoenberg didn't stop me.
