Safe And Sound

Once again, I decided to attempt a Vampire Academy all human story. I've had this idea swimming around in my mind for absolutely ages, but I never got around to actually writing it. The style of it is more like a diary which is something I've never tried before, so I guess it's a little experimental. Without further ado, let me begin. Enjoy!

We can't prevent what we can't predict – Mary Alice Young

Chapter One

Monday September 3rd 2012, 8:30 am, going into school.

How to deal with being held back for two years for spending time in hospital and in therapy:

1) Don't make eye contact with anyone.

2) Listen to music. That way people think you're busy and don't ask questions.

3) Wear bland clothes. You won't stand out if you wear black and grey.

4) Keep texting. Nobody bothers a texter.

5) Don't look too down. You don't want anyone to know you're miserable.

6) If someone speaks to you, be friendly and polite, but DON'T make conversation yourself. That invites unwanted attention.

So, that was the list that I wrote this morning as I dressed in dark colours like I advised myself. As it stands, I couldn't remember a damned thing I wrote on it as I walked up the long, winding path that led to the school building. Was it make eye contact? Or don't make eye contact? Surely it wouldn't be the prior. That would draw attention. That would make people feel as though it was okay to approach me. No, it had to be the latter. Oh, for God's sake what did it matter anyway? No matter how much planning I put into it, today is not going to go well at all.

Why am I here, you ask?

Two years ago, I went camping with a group of friends. My parents told me it was a bad idea, but I wouldn't have it. On the first night, I was attacked by someone that I care not to remember. For ten minutes he chased me and I hid behind trees or in long shreds of grass with the hope of tricking him. Nothing worked apart from when he tripped and dropped the knife he was holding. I scrambled to get it and took a wild stab. It pierced something, but I couldn't tell what it was in the dark, so I got up and ran. No one ever found anything apart from blood-stained grass.

I was taken to hospital for my own injuries and then later found myself in therapy for the ordeal I had faced. Two years later, I found myself going into year eleven as an eighteen year old.

That's putting it simply.

Topics of conversation to not indulge in:

1) Therapy.

2) Hospital.

3) Knives.

4) The fact that I could be a possible murderer.

Now that didn't sound too hard. Well, that was before people started talking to me and the situation rose to an even higher level of awkwardness. I could just see how it would go:

"Hey, have you ever seen the Rob Zombie remake of Halloween?" I'd ask.

"Sure, who hasn't?" They'd reply, thinking I was just trying to be friendly with them and find common ground.

"Well, you know Laurie?" I'd go on. "Funny story actually. My life is just like hers. You know, possibly murdering a criminal and then spending time in therapy. Isn't that just great?"

Oh, lord. Kill me now.

Monday September 3rd 2012, 9:00 am, sitting in Form.

"Welcome back, Rose" My form teacher said, flashing me a wide smile. Did I know him? Perhaps he was one of my teachers before I turned into a knife-wielding lunatic. Who knows? Surely if I'd seen him before, I wouldn't forget him. He had a light, but noticeable Russian accent and his hair was a lot longer than any male teacher should have it. He wore a T-shirt and jeans unlike the others who all wore shirts and ties.

"Um, do I know you?" I questioned, attempting to ignore the stares from my fellow class-mates. Oh god, this man was making me go against all of my rules. Maybe if I got my phone out and started texting, he'd leave me alone…or I could listen to music. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that the list was ridiculous. Not one thing on there had helped me at all.

"No, but I read your file" He answered, smiling once again. Were all teachers this weird? I couldn't remember anymore, it had been two years since I was last face with one. If I had the choice of taking on my attacker in the words or this teacher, I think I'd choose the attacker. "I'm Mr Belikov." He held out a hand for me to shake which I hesitantly took.

"Nice to meet you" I said politely…something I had been practicing ever since I realised that I was going to have to go back to school. "I'm Rosemarie Hathaway. Well, I'm Rose." Oh brilliant, I've been in this classroom for five minutes and I've already started rambling.

"Great, well you'll be sitting next to Lissa" He said once the awkwardness had reached a breaking point. He gestured to a seat at the back of the class next to a blonde, friendly-looking girl. She gave a warm smile as I walked through the row of seats to get to the table that I would be sharing with her.

Don't trip. Don't trip. Don't trip.

She had already pulled the seat out for me and when I thumped down and the class returned to their own conversations, she launched straight into talking.

"Hi, I'm Vasilisa Dragomir, but everyone calls me Lissa" She began, as she flashed me a smile that I could only dream about being able to possess. "I hope you don't mind, but I had a look at your timetable and we're in so many of the same lessons together. Honestly, I really think you'll like our year group. Most of the students here are friendly and I'm sure they won't ask you about what happened to you in those two years"

"How do you know that I was held back for two years?" I asked, betraying rule number 6. I should have just let her talk and answered small questions only.

"Oh, everyone knows that you were off for two years" She answered as her brows furrowed in confusion. "Didn't you know that? It's common knowledge in this school. You've got so many stories about you, but nobody actually knows the truth. You're like a legend in this school. Everyone's been so excited to see you."

"So, people have stories about me?" I asked. Surely one of them would be close to home.

"Yeah, there are the usual ones of how you were in a car crash or you fell down the stairs and had amnesia. You know, the ones you'd expect to hear." Lissa explained all the while with a broad grin on her face. "But then you always got the more adventurous stories about you. There was one that said that you beat an old lady of the head with a plank of wood and spent the two years in a young offender's institution. The weirdest one was that you got into a big fight with your Mum, moved to Paris and became a prostitute."

The problems with those stories:

1) If I was in a car crash it probably would have been in the local newspaper.

2) I can remember perfectly well about my life.

3) Come on, beating an old lady over the head with a plank of wood is just sick. Do I really look like the type of girl to do that?

4) I'd make a very bad prostitute. I'm too violent and angry to be a whore…unless my tricks were into that kind of thing.

Okay, getting off track here…

Monday September 3rd 2012, 11:00 am, break time.

I guess I could be thankful that it was the first day back at school for everyone. Everyone was too concerned at trying to remember their timetables, stuff their homework in their already full bags and bully the new kids in year seven. People weren't noticing me quite as much as they possibly could be. That would more than likely fade when people grew more used to their own lives and could spare some time to focus in on mine.

"So, how did you find your lessons?" Lissa asked as we took a seat at the picnic benches with a group of people that I didn't know. "Nobody ask you what happened?"

"They were okay" I lied. Honestly, it had been two years since I had last picked up a text book. I didn't understand 'Of Mice And Men' anymore, or German and Chemistry. All I could understand was that the person sitting next to me was smart, so it would probably be a wise choice to copy everything off them. "There were a few people who asked where I had been, but not many. In fact, he was one of them" I pointed down the table to where a guy with black hair and crystalline blue eyes sat.

"Christian!" Lissa scolded as she shot him a look of warning. "Why did you poke your nose in Rose's business" Confusion swept over his face for a moment before his eyes landed on me and he broke into a grin that give him a boyish charm.

"Oh, hello" He greeted, moving from his seat to take the one next to me. "It's nice to meet you properly. So, is it true that you were a prostitute?"

"No, it's not" I answered, mustering up the best smile I could as I looked to Lissa for help.

"Christian, be nice" She warned once more. "Rose, is my friend" friend. There were a lot of things that I was expecting to be called today. What Christian said to me had fit the bill, but being called a friend had not been expected at all.

For a moment, I sat there stunned. Perhaps today wasn't going to go as badly as I believed it was.

"I deeply apologise, Rose" Christian said with a wistful sigh as he took my hand in his and pressed a light kiss to my knuckles. "Forgive me?" And just like that, I was no longer mad at him. Of course he was going to be curious. Who wouldn't be. And I had no doubt in my mind that Lissa was probably going to ask me at some point what happened. They weren't being cruel.

"Yes, I forgive you" I chuckled before my eyes fell on a head of red hair. "Is that Mason Ashford?" Goodness, I never thought I would see him again in my life. Back when I was in the right year at school, Mason was one of my best friends. It seemed that he was going to the college this school had. Wow, he cleaned up really well. Back in the day, he was kind of a dork, but he was cute. Now he would be classed as hot. Where did the time go?

"Yeah, do you know him?" Lissa asked as she watched my eyes stare at Mason. Well, she was insightful…I'd give her that.

"Yeah, we used to be in the same year group" I answered. "So, what is he doing now?"

"He's in his last year at the college here" She answered. "He's one of the smartest people here. Come on, he's studying Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics and he's getting A's in all of them. That lad's going somewhere"

"Do you know everything about everyone here?" I asked, a hint of amusement glinting in my eyes as I watched him with interest.

"Well, put it this way" Christian began answering for her. "Lissa is friends with everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Everyone tells her everything about their lives and she just takes it in like a robot."

"Oh, please" She scoffed, attempting to not look proud of herself for having so much knowledge in the lives of others. "I'm nothing like a robot." The only response from Christian was a raise of his eyebrows. "Oh, so do you know who Mason's dating?"

MASON DATING!?

Okay, this was just too surreal for me. Mason tried to get dates. Oh, yeah. He tried like hell to get dates, but he was always single. Never managed to hit much luck when it came with girls.

"Avery Lazar" Lissa answered. I could tell from the way that her mouth opened again that she was going to tell me more, but I jumped in way too quickly for her.

"WHAT!?" I shouted, my brows furrowing as I looked at Mason once more, seeing him in a completely different light. "No, that can't be true! Mason would never date someone like her. She's hot, popular and I'm sorry, but she's the biggest bitch in the world."

"No one's denying that" Christian responded dryly, his eyes travelling across the courtyard to fall on Avery who was now standing with Mason, her hand clasped in his. Oh my goodness, this couldn't be happening. "Look, I don't know what Mason was like when you knew him, but he certainly must have changed. He's like the rest of them. He's…a dick"

"No wonder he didn't come to visit me in the hospital" I muttered under my breath, glaring daggers in their direction.

"What was that?" Lissa asked as she took a sip from the bottle of water that she held in her delicate hand, only mild curiosity etched on her face.

"Oh nothing" I answered, turning back to face them. So, Mason was a popular kid now and had changed. Well, if anyone was going to be able to stop any questions being asked about me, it was Mason.

Note to self: talk to Mason.

Monday September 3rd 2012, 12:30 pm, Maths

Top ten things to hate about high school:

1) The chairs. They'll be the most uncomfortable things you will ever have to sit in your entire life.

2) The smell. Come on, everyone knows that smell that all schools have that makes your nose instantly crinkle when you first walk through the doors.

3) The lack of personal space. Get back on your side of the desk, Mia Rinaldi!

4) The blunt pencils. Would it really kill you to sharpen them on a morning Mr Belikov?

5) Paper-cuts. It should be illegal for schools to use paper. My hands are cut to ribbons.

6) The questions. Stop asking me questions when I haven't been to school in two years! It's just plain cruel.

7) The lingo. I don't really care if you 'went out on the lash cos you're belta.' Please use proper English.

8) Homework. I come here for over six hours a day and you want me to do extra work!? So not going to happen.

9) The lack of haste. Okay, you might not want to get to your lesson, but please don't make me walk like a snail behind you.

10) Students who think they're adults. No, you're sixteen. Just live your childhood whilst you can.

Factorising. The word itself sounds terrifying. What on Earth does it even mean? Okay, we'll just break it down, it's fine. So, there are letters and numbers. Oh, and a plus sign…but what to do with them? Oh for God's sake! In what world is this even remotely normal. I can get away from a 200 Ib attacker, but algebra is my downfall.

"Are you okay?" The blonde girl called Mia asked. Genuine concern was in her eyes which put my mind at rest a little.

"Um, not really" I answered, shaking off the awkwardness with a little bubble of laughter. "I guess you've heard that I haven't been to school in two years. I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to algebra."

"Christ, does anyone?" She joked. Immediately, I took a liking to this girl. When I mentioned the two years that I had spent off school, she acted as though I hadn't even said anything. This girl was going to be one that I stuck with. Hell, she could even have my side of the desk if she wanted. Go one, Mia. You can disobey number 3 of the hate list. "Here, you can just copy off mine."

"So, does Eddie Castile still go here?" I asked her after I had copied a few of the answers down. Her face took on an immediate dislike.

"Yeah, he does" She answered stiffly. "He's in the college too. He's still hanging around with Mason Ashford too."

"Oh god, are you one of the girls who know everything about everyone too?" I asked with a slight laugh, attempting to take the annoyance away from Mia.

"No, I just know about Eddie Castile" She answered, continuing on with factorising. "He's changed just like Mason has. I used to be friends with them back when everyone used to talk to each other."

"When was that?" I asked, unable to remember any of the year groups mixing when I was in the right year of school.

"Oh, it was last year" She answered. "You weren't here then. It happened over the summer. It's all kind of new to us too"

"At least I'm not the only one who's a little behind on things then" I sighed. She shot me a gentle smile and patted me on the shoulder as she closed her Maths book.

"Don't worry about it, Rose" She assured. "You'll get used to things again. It'll just take some time. Oh, and just so you know, I don't believe that you're a prostitute."

"Jesus, thanks, Mia" I laughed, following her to get my bag. Time to face woodwork with Mr Belikov.

Monday September 3rd 2012, 1:30 pm, Woodwork

I've never liked the smell of sawdust. Never in my life. My dad was always into stuff like this and had a workshop in the shed that positively reeked of wood shavings. Every time I got sent in there to clean up for being bad-which was often-I'd come out with a sore throat.

When we were all in the classroom, Mr Belikov told us to take our seats and began telling us what our design brief was. Oh brilliant. We get to make anything that could be sold in a souvenir shop. That's it; I'm making a box that says London Eye. That'll do. I won't get a good grade for it, but at least I'll pass.

"So, get designing" Mr Belikov set off with a wide smile before he began pacing to see what ideas people had.

Lissa was artistic. I could tell as soon as her pencil-blunt might I add. Yep, Mr Belikov, you've just committed number 4 on my hate list-hit the paper. Her hand swept with a grace that I could only dream of. She was designing a model of Mickey Mouse that you could control like a puppet. The destination that she chose was Disneyland, Paris.

"Great work, Lissa" A voice from behind her praised. When I looked up, I saw a pair of deep brown eyes looking down at my own work. He leaned over me, his hands resting on my table as he inspected what I had drawn. I was actually quite good at drawing, I just didn't really care for this subject. "I don't think I can say quite the same for you, Rosa."

Even if I hated the subject, I was hardly going to tell Mr Belikov that after he went out of his way this morning to make me feel comfortable…even if it did turn out to make me even more uncomfortable.

"Sorry, Mr Belikov" I sighed, truly meaning it as I looked down at my design to see that it made me want to start anew. Coming back to school was supposed to be a new start for me and I was already throwing it away by barely trying in lessons. "I'll try again."

"Hey, if you're struggling, you can always come back here at lunch times to get some extra support" He suggested with yet another smile that was probably only plastered on because it said he had to in the teacher handbook. "I'm quite good when it comes to Maths and English too."

"Really?" I asked, genuinely surprised that he cared enough to help me out with subjects that weren't even in his area of expertise. "That would be great! When we can start?"

"How about tomorrow lunch?" He asked. "I can help you out with your design and we can start making it."

"Thanks, Mr Belikov" I said, flashing him with one of my own rare smiles. "It means a lot" He said nothing more, simply continued pacing and offering helpful suggestion to the other class members. It was official; Mr Belikov was by far my favourite teacher here.

"You're so lucky" Lissa sighed as she continued to shade her model of Mickey Mouse. "I mean, I know I'm dating Christian and everything, but he's simply delicious."

"You're dating Christian?" I asked in genuine surprise. Of course she was dating Christian. When I first saw those two together, I pictured them more as brother and sister than anything else, but now it made sense. They were sincerely perfection together. So different, yet exactly the same.

"Yeah, we've only been dating for three months" She answered, a dreamy look taking over her face. Oh god, I hate love sometimes. Well, three months classes as a long-term relationship when you're in high school.

"Oh, and you think Mr Belikov is delicious" I laughed as I trained my eyes on the back of his head. It was true that he was good looking, but delicious may be going a bit over the top. Okay, that was a lie…he was drop dead gorgeous.

"Please, everyone in this school thinks he's a God" Lissa explained as she leaned back in her seat, finally happy with her design. "He's just so…sexy"

"You might want to not let Christian hear you say that" I reminded, keeping my eyes on Mr Belikov the whole time. God, she was right…he is perfection.

"Oh no, Christian's pretty laid back" Lissa said, now taking her eyes off Mr Belikov. "He knows what all the girls in this school are like."

Oh God, I was beginning to act like all the girls in this school.

Monday September 3rd 2012, 3:30 pm, walking out of school

By the time the end of the day finally rolled by, I was wrecked from my first day here. I had never realised how hard a day at school could be back when I was doing it five days a week. Lissa made sure that I walked out with her to ensure that I wouldn't be bothered by anyone asking me about what happened in the two years that I just seemed to vanish of the face of the Earth.

She held hands with Christian the whole time and kept one arm linked with mine as Mia talked rapidly about how annoying she found Avery. It was this kind of talk that I despised most about school. Stupid gossip that was so pathetic, yet still managed to be so interesting and left me hanging on every single word that Mia said about the 'blonde cow.'

"I heard she was a prostitute" A voice whispered from behind me. I attempted to tune it out, but it was virtually impossible. Were people really that interested in knowing about what happened to me? Surely there had to be more interesting things for them to talk about.

The voice ceased abruptly and I turned to see what could have caused it, but only to see Mason barging past him, ensuring that he knocked his shoulder with his own.

"You might want to find a new topic of conversation" He hissed before walking ahead with his hand entwined with Avery's and with Eddie beside him.

"Hey, Rose" He greeted with a daring smile before walking even further ahead of us. Hmm perhaps Mason wasn't quite as bad as everyone was making him out to be.

Things to do tomorrow:

1) Keep making good progress with Lissa, Christian, and Mia. They seem like a safe group of friends to have.

2) TALK TO MASON! He doesn't seem quite as bad as Christian said and he could give me a good reputation around here.

3) Go to Mr Belikov's at lunch. Get work done…don't just gawp at him the whole time!

So, what did you think? I've never written in this style before, so I wasn't entirely sure of how this was going to go. I hope you all enjoyed!

Baby You're My Immortal