Rose POV

Janine Hathaway was standing before my class. Her arms crossed, and looking as much of a bitch as ever. God dammit, why the fuck did she have to come to my class today?! By the looks of things, she didn't even know that I was in this class. Wow, I thought, what a great mom doesn't even know what class her daughter has first period.

"Alright class, we have a few guest speakers, one of them being the famous Janine Hathaway," Stan said, his voice filled with delight.

I wanted to just rip him in half. How the fuck could he be so effing happy! I decided to try and ring in my emotions, aware that Dimitri was standing in the back of the class room. I was only controlling myself for him, to show him that I'm mature.

I let the conversation play out, letting all the other speakers talk without interrupting or asking questions. I tried to make myself as invisible as possible. I wanted my mom to be shocked to find me in this class, so maybe she would slip up when I gave her my famous smart ass attitude.

When the second to last speaker was finished, and it was my mothers turn, my face twisted into an evil grin.

I listened to what she had to say, trying to find out flaws. I listened for over 10 minutes; the raid that she had participated in didn't seem to have any mistakes in them. Until, finally, I found something I could voice my opinion on. And that opinion would totally kick some ass without me having to lift a finger.

"So, Guardian Hathaway, why didn't you guys just secure the place?" I asked her, innocently.

And I got the reaction I wanted. Her head jerked up at my voice, as if she was shocked that I even existed. Surprise, surprise.

"What?" She asked dumbfounded.

"Why didn't you guys just put stakes around the house? That would have saved you a lot of trouble," I told her, my smugness rising.

"Because we didn't have the time, and the only point is that we saved the moroi that were trapped," Her voice was now guarded, and her eyes were like chips of ice.

"Yeah, I get how you saved the day, but say you guys had split up before to replace the old wards, that would have saved a lot of the Guardians trouble."

I heard murmurs of agreement from my class and the group that had just spoken. I was now ecstatic with happiness.

"You're missing my point, Rose, my point is that we couldn't split up because if we did then some of the moroi wouldn't even make it out the door," She told me, her voice crisp.

Dammit, I couldn't argue with that one. But, hey, I was pretty pissed off, so I took a shot at it.

"Still seems to me that you messed up, an experienced Guardian like you should have planned ahead, because if you did that in the first place, it would have saved you-------

"Rose, that's enough. Get your things and go," Stan's voice cut through my words.

I looked back into his eyes and saw a glint of pride that I had just had an argument with one of the most talented Guardians there, but he had to make it look like he was punishing me even though he was just as ecstatic as I was.

I nodded, "See ya Guardian Hathaway," I called over my shoulder and walked out the door, leaving my mother glaring at me.

When I had practice again I knew where everything was.

"The hearts there and the sternum and ribs are blocking the way," I told him.

"How do you get through them?"

So typical, he gave me another question to answer right after I finished answering the first one.

We spent most of class going over that, but then, he finally gave it to me.

"You're giving it to me?" I asked, shocked.

"Yes, I thought you would have taken it and run by now," He mused.

He taught me how to stake the dummies, giving me encouragement and pointers when I needed them.

"Good, very good," He told me, after practice.

"Really?" I asked, shocked from his praise.

"Yes, you're doing it like you've been doing it for years," He told me.

My mood shot from happy to ecstatic.

I looked behind me, spotting a red haired dummy that looked like my mother. "Can I stake that one next time?"

He looked at the one I was refering to. "I don't think that would be healthy."

"Well it's better to do it to it rather then her," I mumbled.

"Why do you hate her so much?" He asked me.

I thought about it for a second, "Because she put more time into her reputation then to me. She just gave me up here and went on doing her job, never even cheking in on me."

"So you're jealous that she put more time into her reputation then you," He told me, voice gentle.

I couldn't argue with that. I knew that he was right, because it was actually true. I wish that she had tried to at least raise me until I was two, or one even. Then I would be able to know that she actually carried about me.

"She's probably just doing it for her molnijas though," I told Dimitri.

"Come with me," He said abruptly.

"Why?" I asked him, my heart beating faster.

"I want to show you that not all marks are badges of honor," Was all he said.

I shrugged and followed him out the door.