Jackson and Aria sleep soundly that night. Neither woke until the sun was shining in their faces. Aria woke up first and showered while Jackson stayed asleep. She loved how peaceful he looked when he slept. The weather was warming up again, and Aria loved it. The sun and the warm breeze were some of her favourite things.

She slips on a white dress that sits just above the knee and some sandals. Summer is her favourite season because she loves the clothes she can wear. She ties her hair in a ponytail, her hair still touching the middle of her back.

'You have some fine legs' Aria turns to see Jackson leaning against the backboard of her bed. She smiles.

'Are you getting up sometime today? its getting too late to be in bed...' she replies as she closes the door of her wardrobe.

"I could get up..." She hears in his mind. She snaps her head to him.

'You're disgusting.' She says, laughing as she heads for the door. He chuckles too.

'Where are you going?' he asks as she opens the door.

'I'm going to see Genevieve.' She smiles. 'Get out of bed and come find me later.' she winks at him as she leaves.

She walks to the office at the end of the corridor. The wooden blinds are no longer on the window. Aria looks in as she walks past. The room is bright and cheerful. She knocks on the door and cracks it open.

'Aria! i was hoping to see you!' Genevieve says. She's standing by the window. Aria walks inside and shuts the door.

'Hi. I was just coming to see how you were' she smiles. Genevieve smiles back at her.

'I'm amazing. This office was so dark and gloomy when i arrived. So last night i pulled down those god awful blinds and tidied up' She says, gesturing around the room. 'What do you think?' she asks aria.

Aria glances around. Victorias old desk is gone and has been replaced with a glass one. A notebook computer sits in the center. All the old antique furniture has been replaced with new modern upgrades. The office is classy and stylish, Aria would love one like it.

'I love it. Its very modern.' Aria says.

'It is, isn't it? So, can i help you with something?' Genevieve asks Aria. She nods.

'I know its not really my place to ask or suggest, but Victorias rules here were extreme...' Aria says, leaning against the door.

'Were they? Of course, we can change them! New and improved everything!' Genevieve says loudly as she sits down on her desk. Aria laughs as she sits in the chair opposite her.

'Okay, so what were some of these rules you wish to change?' Genevieve asks, opening her laptop. She taps a few keys before she looks at Aria.

'Well, Victoria wouldn't allow anyone outside the fence; even to go shopping.' She says.

'How ridiculous! I will scrap that rule immediately; however i will set a curfew and monitor who leaves the premises.' Genevieve taps away as Aria waits to speak again.

'This may sound weird, but she also didn't allow men in womens dorms and vice versa...' Aria says quietly. Genevieve is shocked.

'That is even more ridiculous. Vampires need to experience everything!' Genevieve says, throwing her hands in the air.

is she a hippie or what?

She continues to type for a few more moments. She looks up at Aria with a grin on her face.

'You and Jackson are probably the most attractive couple i have ever seen.' She says.

Aria laughs awkwardly. 'Uh... Thanks.'

'Did you break these rules?' She asks, raising an eyebrow at Aria.

'What?'

'I wont be mad, I'm hardly a headmistress.' Genevieve chuckles.

Aria feels more awkward by the minute.

'Come on Aria, I'm trying to be a cool hip vampire.' She says, waving her arms around in some unfortunate looking way.

Aria knows she's making an effort to make friends and fit in. She is nearly 1000 years old after all.

'Um... yeah, once.' Aria manages to say. Genevieve grins at her.

'See? Rules are made to be broken! But now there are none of these ludicrous rules...' She says, pressing enter once before shutting the lid on her computer.

'Just be careful. You're incredibly powerful, but no amount of power stops a heartbreak.' She says, flashing a quick smile at Aria. She nods and heads for the door.

'Aria, I'm going to call a school assembly in an hour. Please attend.' Genevieve says just before Aria leaves. She nods and exits.

What was that all about?

Aria walks down the stairs and into the lobby. She walks into the courtyard and heads towards the fountain. suddenly hands grab her shoulders from behind her. She whirls around.

'Hey.' Jackson pecks her on the cheek. 'How is she?'

Aria smiles 'She's redecorated. She seems really happy. She's changed some of the school rules too.' she says, taking his hand in hers.

'Really?'

'Yep. We can leave the grounds now between certain times, and its okay to go into your opposite genders dorm now.' she winks at him.

'Oh, that's amazing! We can run whenever we like now.' Jackson smiles at her.

They spent the next hour in Isabellas' Courtyard before the assembly began.

Jackson takes Arias hand and they walk to a building she's never seen before.

'What is this?' she asks.

'Its rarely used. Its a theatre like hall.' he says. They walk into the building.

It is similar to the amphitheatre where they are taught Phys Ed, except each terrace has tens of chairs lining it. Students have already begun to fill the hall and Jackson and Aria quickly find a seat. They sit next to the other warriors in the same row.

Genevieve walks on stage and the room goes silent. Aria looks at Jackson for a moment before watching her.

'Thank you for attending this assembly on such short notice, but i felt it was vital to keep you updated.' Genevieve says as she slowly paces back and forth.

'I'm sure most of you saw what happened to your Headmistress yesterday. I'm here to tell you that she violated a law set by the Counsel, which warranted death.'

The crowd starts to whisper quietly, but she continues.

'I am the leader of the Counsel. I know reside within your main building, however i am not your Headmistress. I am your advisor.'

'I do not wish to make decisions for this school, though i did alter some rules...'

She stops pacing.

'You will now be allowed to leave the school grounds between the hours of 9am and 9pm'

The students cheer loudly and clap. Aria laughs; everyone is so excited.

'Alright, please keep listening. You are also permitted to enter a dorm belonging to a member of the opposite sex...'

The room roars into life again, people stand and chant. Genevieve smiles, giving them all a moment to celebrate.

She continues 'If these alterations are taken advantage of and used incorrectly, they will be fixed back to the ones they were before.'

'You can also hunt your own meals in the woods surrounding the school. It is a vampire right to catch their own prey.'

She makes us sound like animals.

"We are animals. We are at the top of the food chain now."

Aria looks at Jackson. His eyes are bright and happy.

'That is all i wish to tell you. You may leave.' Genevieve walks off stage and the students start to leave.

Outside, Heath gives Aria a hug.

'If you had anything to do with these rule changes, I love you!' he shouts. His smile reaches his eyes.

She laughs 'You love me anyway'

Heath waves goodbye and disappears. Aria thinks he's going to the front gate, along with every other student.

Jackson kisses her cheek from behind her.

'So, what now Miss Lestiva?' He asks before planting another kiss on her. Its on her neck this time and is sends tingles throughout her body.

'Don't do that in public!' she says, stepping away from him.

he laughs 'Do you want to leave the grounds too?'

She shakes her head slowly. 'No. There's no point. I cant hunt my prey' She says mocking Genevieves' speech. 'But you can if you want.'

'Nah, I don't want to.' He says.

They walk side by side back to the common room. Julian is on the couch when they walk in.

'Hey. You didn't go hunting?' Jackson asks when he walks in.

'Nah. Every other student did, it'd be crowded. Ill go later.' He replies, without taking his eyes off the TV.

Jackson takes Arias hand and pulls her towards the spare bedroom. She stops.

'I don't think...'

Jackson shushes her. 'He can still hear you.'

'I don't think this is wise...' She finishes her sentence as a whisper.

'We're not doing anything too extreme, I promise.'

Aria sighs and lets him take her into the room. He shuts the door, and in an instant he's kissing her. His fingers run through her hair and her hands brace against his chest. He's kissing her like he's been deprived for years. His head moves to the crook of her neck and she feels the smooth surface of his fangs. Her breath hitches. Jackson sinks his fangs into her neck and she gasps.

He withdraws quickly and lets go of her as he stumbles backwards. He's frowning.

'What? Did i do something wrong?' Aria asks, panicked.

He shakes his head. 'No. I'm sorry, i just...' He wipes the back of his hand across his mouth. Arias heart begins to sink.

'What, Jackson?'

'I cant...'

She walks forward and takes his hands.

'Tell me what's wrong.'

'I cant say it without hurting your feelings.'

Arias chest tightens. She knows she's about to receive a blow. 'Spit it out.' She says, growing impatient.

'You taste different.'

She frowns. 'I what?'

Her grip tightens on his hands. 'I don't know Aria, you blood isn't the same. I don't like it.' He says, his voice quiet.

Tears spring to her eyes. His words have cut deeply.

'I'm sorry. I don't know why, maybe its just me...'

Aria drops his hands and walks towards the bed. She sits on the edge. Her eyes flow over, and blood streaks her face. Jackson sits down beside her.

'I'm sorry.'

She sniffs. 'Don't be. Its not your fault I taste bad now.' she snaps.

Jackson wraps his arm around her waist. He stays silent.

Aria looks at him. 'Why?'

He shakes his head and quickly wipes her cheeks. 'I don't know.'

'Am i dying?'

He snorts. 'Of course not! We're immune. Maybe you just ate some off blood.'

'I haven't eaten since before we left. You had my blood before then.'

'Lets just not worry about this okay? You were right anyway, its not wise to start anything here.' he says as he walks towards the door. Once he's gone, Aria falls backwards onto the bed. She feels thoroughly rejected and she cries until falls asleep.