I forgot to do a disclaimer in chapter 1, so here we go now! I don't own any Bloodlines characters, nor the world. On with the story now!

I felt pretty stupid wandering aimlessly around the first floor of the dorm. I was pretty sure there was a cafeteria in each dorm. If I was going to be this clueless, I might just have to tell one of them about the dream thing earlier than usual. Usually, I tell the characters what's going on, so they will listen to me when I tell them to do something. Otherwise, we veer quite far from the plot, and I can no longer predict what my actions may cause.

I'm still not sure if I want to stay on this plot line.

Finally, I find the cafeteria. By my luck, everyone should be in the other one, but I quickly spy Jill and Angeline sitting across from a nervous looking Sydney and Zoe. I know one is faking, but -if I didn't- I wouldn't have guessed. As I approach, a thought crosses my mind.

If I want to change the end, I'll have to start now.

But what if I do it wrong?

There is a free seat next to Jill. Or there is a free seat next to Zoe. I can get on the plot, or I can fix it.

I go over to the fruit bar to buy time. With choices already swirling in my head, I almost don't know whether I want strawberries or raspberries.

In the past, I've altered plot lines thinking I'm making things better, only to find I've ruined everything. Most authors, with a few exceptions, end bitter sweet, and the people who survive are changed for the better. But I'm just not sure I can let Sydney go to re-education...

With the little paper boat filled with fruit, I walk back over to the table and sit next to Zoe. She whips around, brushing me a bit with her hair, and gives me a surprised look.

"Good morning," I say smiling. Then, I catch my mistake. I smile with my teeth naturally. I'm going to have to work on that. Zoe has turned so pale I wonder if she's going to bolt.

"G-good morning," she says, and averts her eyes. Her cereal bowl is full and soggy. She isn't eating any of it.

"Did you sleep well?"

She nods.

"Could you figure out the math homework for Mr. Dave's class?" Jill asked. It took me a second for me to realize she was talking to me. Was I in the freshmen classes? But I'm a sophomore... Sigh. Guess I'm back in algebra. Which basically means no. I know about as much about algebra as Braydon knows how to be polite.

"Wait, which homework?"

"Evie!" Sydney shook her head, "You have to keep your grades up. We need you here."

Why did they need me here? Why was I valuable?

"I know I did it," I say, "I just... can't remember what it was now."

Jill laughs. "Parabolas."

Oh god. I don't remember how to do those.

"Oh... um, right. It was confusing. I tried all the problems, but I'm going to have to ask for some help in class. I'll get credit for what I did though."

Sydney sighed. "Maybe I can help you later."

"You're so busy though," I said, a thought forming, "Maybe... Zoe?"

She froze. A corn flake slipped off the spoon and plopped into the bowl. "Me?"

"Yeah. You've probably got the most time out of anyone who knows this stuff. I mean, with how much stuff you guys know, I'm surprised you don't have your doctorates."

Sydney laughed. "I don't think we're that educated."

I shrugged. "More than me. So, will you tutor me?"

Zoe bit her lip and looked at Sydney for help. Sydney nodded. "It's a good point. Just once or twice should be fine." She looked around Zoe to me. "Then, I'll find you a new tutor."

I nodded and took a bite of my raspberries.

"Hey, I -um- have a project for Ms. Terwilliger tonight, so do you think you can handle bringing everyone to Clarence's?" Sydney asked. She directed the question toward Zoe, but everyone was paying close attention

"Alone?"

"Yes. Only once."

So we're probably in the very beginning of the book. That was convenient.

She nodded and got up with her bowl to throw away. Sydney turned to me. "Do you honestly want to scare her?"

"No. I want to get her used to us. Like you when you had to share a room with Jill."

She looked surprised for a moment. Was right now the right moment to tell? No, Zoe was coming back, and she obviously doesn't trust me. I won't tell her about the dream thing. "Sydney, I'd like to talk to you in our room later if that's okay. Maybe bring Jill along?"

"Me too?" Angeline asked.

"Sure. I'd say bring Eddie, but... you know, girls dorm. I'll tell him another time."

"Tell who what?" Zoe asked.

"Tell Adrian I'm thinking of learning to bake. I might steal some use of his kitchen."

"What would you bake anyway?" Angeline asked, easily distracted.

"Cookies."

I got up and threw my plate away.

…

A ball hit me in the shoulder and I stumbled, dizzy, over to the 'jail'. I hate gym class anyway. My terrible hand-eye coronation didn't mix well with my reaction to the sun which I'd almost forgotten about. Until I got here.

Jill had the gym class before me, when the sun was pretty low. The start of class, for me, hadn't been terrible. It was only as it rose that more problems started.

Angeline was in my class, but she barely seemed to notice me when I got to the 'jail' area and slumped against the brick wall. I hated dodge ball.

The bell rang and I dragged myself into the locker room.

"You okay?" Angeline asked me, rushing over.

"Yeah," I panted, "I'll be fine."

"Do you want me to walk you to history just in case?"

I nodded, knowing that I had no clue where the history class was. Plus, it wasn't going to be hard to pretend to feel faint. I wasn't that far off.

We got dressed and left the gym.

"What's so important that you want to get us all in your room to tell us tonight?" she asked me.

"It's hard to explain. That's why I want to explain it to everyone at once. It's more efficient."

"You sound like an alchemist," she rolled her eyes. "Everything has to be efficient. Is is something bad? Are you okay?"

"No, nothing's wrong. It's just kind of complicated is all."

She seemed to think about this for a moment then stopped at a room. "Here. Um, see you later then."

"Yeah. See you."

I went inside.

I had made sure to take a long time getting dressed so if the class had assigned seats, I'd be late enough that I couldn't choose the wrong one. Yet, there was still three left when I got inside. With my heart beating loudly, I picked the one closest to the front and sat down. The teacher, a woman probably around forty, raised her eyebrows. I felt myself blush but didn't move.

"Evalyn Mayers?" said the woman, "Could you see me please?"

A few people giggled as I stood and took each careful step to the desk.

"Um, you wanted to... see me?" I said, probably inaudibly. She gave me a pointed look.

"Yes. I was wondering if you'd come to the library during last period."

"Well, uh, I have physics last period."

"I'll give you a pass." She pulled out a pad of sticky notes from under a stack of papers and started writing. In a whispered voice, she said, "By the way, I'm Ms. Terwilliger." With a fully serious expression, she handed me the pass and continued, "We're studying Henry VII."

Ms. Terwilliger. What did she want to talk to me about in the library with Sydney? Why was she-

She knew.

I took the pass with shaking hands and nodded. "Thank you."

I turned. "Wait," she said. I turned back. She was pointing in the general direction of one of the other free seats. "That's your seat."

I gave her a grateful smile -no teeth of course- and went to the other seat.

Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to see a girl with chin length red hair. "Hey," she said, "What did Ms. T want?"

"She wants me to work on her with something last period."

"You get to skip physics? Sweet..." She smiled at me. "Are we still studying this afternoon?"

"Oh!" I said, pretending to remember, "Well, I-"

"Oh, and Evalyn?" Ms. Terwilliger said from her desk, "We might run over, so be prepared to miss some of whatever plans you may have right after school."

The girl looked sad, but nodded. "Maybe tomorrow."

"Yeah, sure."

The bell to start class rang and I looked forward again. This was going to be a hard book to get through.