As we head out the front gates, i consider for a moment making a break for it. I could track and drain a human before Stefan could even catch me; but i shake the thought from my mind. If i want to enjoy it here, i need to try to live their way. I follow Stefan through the forest. It begins to look familiar and i realise we're heading the direction we came to the school from a few days ago. The sky is turning pink, and i know I'm running out of time. Suddenly Stefan stops and faces me. 'Okay, you basically just have to do what you normally do when tracking a human; just with an animal.' He walks around behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. 'You need to listen for sounds of movement. Not the breeze in the trees or anything. Really concentrate...' I cant concentrate when youre touching me... Finally he lets go of my shoulders, and i close my eyes. I tune my hearing. I can hear breathing; my own, and Stefans. I can hear the birds in distance high in the trees. Its peaceful out here. Something grabs my attention, and instinctively i run towards it. I can hear it running along the ground; breathing. I track it, staying close by until i find the right moment. I dont know what it is, but its food, and i have to try. In a heartbeat, i leap into the air and land on the creature. It roars underneath me, but i dont have time to think about it. I force myself to sink my teeth into it neck, and it struggles beneath me. It slashes about, trying to break free, but I'm ten times stronger than it. I hold my breath, trying not to smell or taste the blood. I gulp down mouthful after mouthful, but once i get to my third, i have to stop. I let the animal go, and it runs off while i spit the remaining blood out. Stefan runs up to me, puffing. 'What happened?!' I splutter. 'Its just as awful...' i manage to say, before i throw up the contents of my stomach onto the ground. 'Shit, Eleanor...' Stefan reaches down to me, pulling my hair away from my face. The embarrassment kills me. I had done such a good job, only to let it go to waste. Plus, Stefan had just seen me puke. I wipe my hand across my mouth, trying to clean my face off. I look at him; he looks sad. Tired, but mostly sad. 'I tried though. Its just as gross as the bottles.' I say, defeated. He rubs my shoulder. 'Its fine. Look, we'll figure out something.' He says, helping me stand. His face softens. 'You should be proud though, you did just wrestle a Puma.' I look at him in shock. 'Really? Is that what it was?' holy shit. He chuckles. 'Yeah! Just wait til the rest of the pack hear about it.' I cant help but laugh when i imagine the look on daniels face. We head back to the grounds, and back to the common room. The sun has completely set by the time we arrive. When we walk into the common room, Stefan stops. 'Where have you been?' i hear Damon ask as i walk into the room. He glares at me, then back at Stefan. 'Where were you two?' he asks, growing angrier. 'Damon, dont even try with the whole pretending to care shit, we're not buying it.' Stefan snaps. He walks to the kitchen and grabs a bottle from it for himself. Damon looks at me waiting for his answer. I swallow. 'We just went hunting thats all.' I shrug. 'That's not necessary.' He says. 'It was their last option Damon.' Daniel pipes up from his spot on the lounge. 'She's a human drinker.' Damons face changes, from anger to confusion. I nod. 'It didn't work.' I say to him, then look at Daniel. 'So what now?' he asks me. 'I dont know.' I say, sitting next to him on the couch. I let myself relax. I'm actually exhausted... 'Ill speak with the headmistress tomorrow...' Stefan calls from the kitchen. '... She might make an exception.' 'You know that wont happen.' Damon says quickly. I watch him pick up a pool que from beside the pool table and make a break. He's playing by himself. Stefan groans. 'Damon, i wasn't talking to you. You dont speak for Aria.' I see Damon shoot Stefan a glare. There's so much tension between them. I must ask what its all about... 'Brother, i actually do. Remember I'm the chief around here...' he says, before pocketing another pool ball. I sit there in silence; i cant get involved. 'So what, Damon? are you going to stop her from getting the food she needs? Are you going to deny her what she has survived on for 600 years?' Stefan has slowly edged closer to Damon, but has come to a stop. 'Yes, Stefan; Because if i allow it, other students will want to have a go too. Its not happening.' He's actually not going to budge. He hasn't changed at all. Just when i thought i was getting somewhere; its ripped from me again. I sigh. I hear a rumble deep from within Stefans throat. Daniel tenses beside me, and i notice the rest of the pack do too. My heart quickens. 'Back down, Stefan. You are letting your feelings get in the way of your better judgement.' Damon stands the pool que against the table. His face hardens. 'Guys, stop.' I snap, quickly rising from the couch. They both look at me. 'This is stupid okay. I cant stay here; at this school. If i physically cant follow the rules, then i cant stay.' I accept my fate. 'Don't be daft!' Daniel shouts from beside me. 'You've been here like, 3 days. We'll sort something.' 'I will talk to the headmistress now...' Stefan heads for the door. 'Don't. She's with Gia.' Damon says sternly. 'Who is Gia?' i ask. 'That's Arias daughter. Her name is Giovanna; Gia for short.' Daniel informs me. I smile. I desperately want to meet this baby. 'Fine, ill ask her tomorrow morning. Can you hold off until then?' Stefan looks at me. I fake a smile. 'Of course i can.' I really dont know... 'Okay, ill sort it.' He glares at Damon once more, before turning and heading upstairs. 'I'm going to bed. Goodnight.' He calls out. We say goodnight in unison as he disappears. We all sit in silence for a moment, before Marco switches on the tv. "Welcome to NY news. We have unconfirmed reports that actress and model Eleanor Deveroux has been abducted...' My head shoots up. 'what!' i shout at the tv. 'Sources have only today received information relating to Miss Deveroux, with reports saying she was spotted with long time friend Sierra Mahoney, being forced into a car by a man...' 'This cant be happening...' I say. I hear Damon laughing. 'This isn't funny Damon! This is my career; my reputation! There will be police looking for me!' i shout at him. 'Its hilarious. They think we kidnapped you.' 'Well, at the time Damon, we thought we were being kidnapped.' He's still chuckling to himself. 'Eleanor, no one really cares about you. In a few more days, you'll both be yesterdays news.' He says bluntly. 'If anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of Miss Deveroux and Miss Mahoney, please contact NYPD...' The tv is suddenly switched off. I glare at Damon, furious. 'You know what Damon? You're an even bigger asshole than i first thought...' I begin, standing up from the couch. '...You've obviously had such a shitty fucking life that you feel the need to torment those around you; to make yourself feel better. This afternoon i thought maybe you'd grown some balls. It appears they were only temporary...' I spit the words at him like they're on fire, my rage taking over. I turn on my heels and head straight for the door. Suddenly, I'm forced backwards into a wall. Damon has me pinned, fangs bared and veins hard. I snarl, and the pack jump to defensive positions. I struggle to break free, but he snarls at me again. 'Damon!' Marco shouts from behind us. 'If you ever speak to me like that again, you will regret it...' he growls, puffing. I manage to get loose and shove him backwards. Hard. He nearly hits the floor. I take off, running as fast as i can down the corridors and lobby, and back to my room. I slam the doors behind me and catch my breath. 'Jerk' i say to myself. He has the worst temper. I'm so mad at him i could rip his head off. I throw myself onto my bed and relax. My temper hasn't been this bad before either; at least not in a very long time. i must be really thirsty. I close my eyes, just for a moment...