AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This chapter is going… a little slow. Don't know why. Just is. Sorry. D=

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I'm so anxious, it's like I can't even breathe. The clock, as the hand begins its slow ascent into another minute, can't seem to move fast enough. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat, my lip firmly snagged between my teeth, and I'm probably annoying everyone around me, I'm tapping my pencil so fast. Beside me, Christian chuckles, and shakes his head at my reaction.

After this period, we get to go meet our 'guardians'. Six weeks, of relaxing with Rose, almost twenty-four seven? It's got me excited. And I'll get to see how she reacts, to situations. Unlike Christian, I haven't got to see her fight, something that I can't help but be jealous of. My boyfriend and best friend pretend to hate each other, and yet he's seen her fight, when I haven't. Casting a glance at him, I want to voice my opinion, in a tease, but somehow I think he just knows. Or pretends to, at least.

Glancing down at the essay on my desk, that I finished long ago, I wonder how the novices must be feeling. If I'm excited, and sitting on the edge of my seat, and I already know who I'm going to get, how are THEY feeling? For a moment, I wish that I could slip into Rose's head, to watch everyone and see how they're reacting to this. She'll probably be the most relaxed one of them all, just smiling smugly in the bleachers, at all the other dhampirs. That's my Rose, after all.

Christian reaches over, and pokes me in the side, taking advantage of my distraction and the teachers. I let out a small little 'eep!' that escapes the teacher's ears, though some of my classmates turn around to glare at me. I mouth the word 'sorry' at them, and they simply turn around. Then, I cast a glare at Christian, shaking my finger in a 'no-no' sign.

I can't help but stare at Christian. He's so perfect, so amazing. His hair is tousled just right, and his eyes… They're just the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. He doesn't deserve to be with me, he'd deserve a Moroi, or even a dhampir, who was stunning, someone who wasn't flat like me. In fact, I could almost picture him with Rose… Almost. Their personalities would be a war, they'd always bicker… The thought of that made me smile, and I had to raise a hand to my mouth to stifle a giggle.

"Miss Dragomir? Care to share your essay with the class?" The teacher's voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and for a moment, all I can do is tilt my head to the side. Essay…?

I glance over at Christian, and he points to the paper on my desk. "Oh… I think I'd rather not, Sir." I murmur, folding my hands over the piece of paper. Between my index and middle finger, I have my pencil again, and I'm shifting back and forth, unable to still myself right now, out of my excitement.

The teacher looks down his nose at me, striding over to my desk. He goes to snatch the essay, up off of my desk, but the bell rings. Immediately, I grab my books in one arm, and Christian's arm with the other, dragging him from the classroom. We all flock, in one big group, out onto the quad, whispers about who got who, some dhampirs already meeting up with their Moroi.

Christian's laughing at me, at how I'm rushing to find Rose. He wraps his arm around my waist, placing a kiss on my temple. "Don't be in such a rush." He comments, "She'll catch up. Let's see who everyone else got."

And for a moment, I do. I'm talking to Camille, who says that she got Ryan, when suddenly I hear the start of rumors.

"…She threw a fit!"

"I hear she punched Alberta in the face."

"She said she'll make them pay."

For a moment, my mind traces to Rose, the only one on campus who would have a temper remotely like that. But then I have to smile to myself, that's nonsense. Rose wouldn't be angry; she'd be excited about these six weeks, probably more than I am. It'd be a chance for her to show off her skills, and relax with me at the same time.

Christian's face, however, isn't as sure as I feel. I bump my elbow against his, "What's wrong?" I ask.

But we get interrupted by Eddie. He walks over to us, a shy smile on his face. I figured that Eddie had probably been assigned to Christian. I thought that was good, he had been keeping mainly to himself since Spokane. Mason WAS his best friend, I understood that, and I was actually glad, that now, maybe we could help Eddie.

"Hey, Liss." Eddie says, though his smile is shy. He awkwardly rubs the back of his neck, casting his eyes downwards, as if he's regretful. I smile at him.

"Hey Eddie. Who'd you get assigned to?" Christian says, trying to make small talk.

Eddie blushes, once again rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"It's okay, I'm not THAT bad." Christian chuckles. "It won't be too bad, I promise."

"I didn't get you Christian… I got Lissa."

For a moment, all I can do is stare. "Then… Then who did Rose get?"

"Christian."

And for some reason, that makes me laugh. I can't help it. Christian and Rose stuck together… That's just way too good.

Christian fixes me with a glare. "That is SO not fair." He grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest.

I smile at Eddie. "Don't worry Eddie, it'll be okay. We'll have fun, trying to keep Christian and Rose from killing each other anyways." I giggle again.

Christian huffs a sigh, "Alright, let's go to the cafeteria."

I tug on his hand, and he looks down at me, "Hold on Eddie." I lean up on my tip-toes, linking mine and Christian's fingers together, and press a kiss to his lips, before pulling back and smiling, "Be nice to Rose… Please?"

Christian smirks, "We'll see." He takes my hand again, aware that we're being glared at by the teachers. "Let's go fetch my guardian…" he grumbles, and with Eddie at my other side, we go to the cafeteria…

Oh, Rose is going to be happy about this.