I smoothed my shirt and appraised myself in the mirror. I could definitely pass as a college student! My hair was pulled back in a loose bun at the top of my neck, my blue jeans fitted but comfortable, and my t-shirt and sweater crease-free. Honestly, I should let Lissa pick my casual clothes more often. I grabbed my bag off the chair and wandered out to the small kitchen, kissing Dimitri's cheek as I sat down next to him.

"Ready for your first day?" Lissa asked across from me as she ate her yogurt. I smirked and grabbed a banana out of the bowl. I nodded and started to eat, leaning into Dimitri as I read the paper over his shoulder. There wasn't anything all that interesting to me, so I waited until he read his page and I stole the comic section, smirking at him as I did so.

"What's our first class again?" I asked over my mouthful of banana.

"English."

I rolled my eyes but accepted it. I would have to play catch up because she was so far ahead. Dimitri had it easy; all he had to do was go to cooking classes and make stuff. I had to shit through hours of mind numbness for political science.

The classes weren't really that bad, they were actually interesting. I would never in a million years think that I would be interested in the subjects, but I was hooked on the law classes we did take. Lissa's classmates were alright too, a few of them were kind enough to include me immediately into their tight-nit group.

The one downside of the group of friends was Jude. He was the stereotypical frat boy in the mix. Also had no sense of social cue. I groaned quietly to myself as Jude talked. He had been hitting on me for a few weeks now and took every opportunity to talk to me. And by extension, Lissa. He was using talking to Lissa to talk to me.

"So?"

I turned back into the conversation after surveying the room. "Hmm?"

"I wanted to know if the two of you wanted to come to a Halloween party next weekend?" Jude said a small smile on his face. I looked and Lissa and I knew immediately that she wanted to go.

"Can I bring my boyfriend?" I asked.

"Boyfriend?" he asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice. I nodded and did a quick glance around the room, smiling to myself when I saw the six feet and seven inches of my man standing at the door. I pointed behind Jude's shoulder and he turned, sizing Dimitri up before looking back at me.

"He's a little old for you, isn't he?"

Lissa snorted a laugh and gave me a look that said she was going over to Christian, effectively abandoning me in this conversation. I sighed and shifted my weight, placing my hands on my hips.

"He's not. Not that it's your business to comment on my personal life," I said before brushing past him, skipping towards Dimitri. He must have had some notion of the conversation I was fleeing from because he broke protocol. He slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me in for a kiss. Not quite chaste, but enough to make a point clear. I pulled away and smiled up at him before he pulled my bag from my hand, shouldering it before taking my hand.

"How was your class?" I asked as we walked behind Christian and Lissa. Dimitri shrugged and squeezed my hand. "It was alright."

I raised my brows at him but didn't push him for more information. I heard footsteps approaching us quickly and I saw Eddie running towards us, so I slowed my pace.

"Sorry! I had to talk to Profession Atkins about the assignment. What bullshit right? We're only in class for six weeks and he's dropped this on us," Eddie explained, his complaint clear in his voice. I grinned and snorted a laugh. I knew how he felt. One of Lissa and I's professors gave us an assignment two weeks in. Lissa was ok with it, I was not.

When we finally got back to the house I dropped my bag onto our bed and bolted for the shower, wanting to destress a bit before diving headfirst into homework with Lissa.

"We've been invited to a party next weekend," I called out to Dimitri. I wasn't sure if he heard me over the shower, but the curtain was pulled back a bit.

"A party?"

"Mmmhmm. A Halloween party," I said as I tipped my head back to rinse out the suds. The skin on my chest puckered due to the curtain being open and I looked at him.

"What?"

"I don't have a costume," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. I smirked at him before turning to face him.

"Don't worry about that. I have you covered."

"You're joking, right?" Dimitri asked with a slight chuckle. I grinned in the mirror as I adjusted my hat before applying my lipstick.

"No. I spent a bit of time looking for these. I knew Lissa was going to want to do something for Halloween, so I planned ahead," I explained, rubbing the pigment into my lips.

"Roza, where did you get the money to buy these? These are real boots," Dimitri asked, pointing to the cowboy boots that rested against the dresser. I wagged my brows at him as I bent over to put on my own boots, and I heard his muted groan and his hands settled on my hips.

"As much as I love this, did you have to buy one so short? I'm going to spend all night beating horny college boys away with a stick," Dimitri whined, squeezing my hips firmly.

"You could beat me with your stick," I chirped, laughing to the floor because of the noise he made. I stood up and spun in his hands, placing my hands on his chest.

"There are many things you can do with that stick," I whispered sultry, leaning in and pressing my lips to his neck.

"God, my ears are going to bleed after hearing that!"

We pulled away to find Eddie standing in the doorway dressed in a black cape, black eye mask, and a short black sombrero. I snickered and leaned into Dimitri.

"What the hell are you dressed as?"

Eddie looked insulted and flicked his cap back dramatically. "I'm Zorro. What are you? A sluty cowgirl?"

I shrugged and rolled my eyes. "No. I am not sluty. It's flirty. Who the fuck is Zorro?"

"Easy you two. We have a party to get ready for," Dimitri said, squeezing my hips gently. I sighed and pulled away from Dimitri, closing the door between Eddie and me, sticking my tongue out at him as I did. I chuckled and flopped down on our bed and eyeballed Dimitri as he changed his clothes, practically drooling over his chiselled abs as he pulled on a pair of jeans.

"If you keep looking at me like that, we're going to have a problem," Dimitri said as he buttoned his pants. I giggled and sat up, pouting at him playfully before making my way over to him. Dimitri raised his brow at me as I ran my fingers over his stomach and scrunched my nose at him.

"I don't think it would really be a problem," I joked. Dimitri rolled his eyes and dipped his head down, kissing the tip of my nose before pulling away and shrugging on his shirt. I smirked and picked up the bandana I bought that matched my shirt and tied it around his neck. Dimitri finished his outfit off by pulling on boots, duster, and Stenson.

I headed into the living room and found the rest of our team, the rest of them in regular clothes bar Eddie. I shook my head at Eddie and grabbed my water bottle off the coffee table, taking a swig while leaning over Eddie's shoulder. Jensen was going over the lay out of the sorority house the party was being held in when Christian and Lissa entered the room. I looked up and snickered, covering my mouth in case I spit my water out. I would expect Lissa to pick out a girly costume, but it looks like Christian took the lead.

"Bonnie and Clyde?"

"Bonnie and Clyde," Lissa said, smoothing her hair. Lissa really pulled off the look, right down to the cherry red lipstick.

"That better not be a real gun," I said firmly, looking at Christian with narrowed eyes. He rolled his eyes at me and shook his head.

"No. It's just a toy. Is that a real gun?" he replied, canting his head to the thigh strap I had on. I smirked and adjusted my skirt over my holster.

"Yes, and it's loaded. All of us Guardians will have one. Plus I tied it into my costume."

Christian rolled his eyes and helped Lissa with her coat, whispering something in her ear that made her blush. I shook my head and pulled on my coat too, checking to make sure my stake was secured under my skirt. I noticed Dimitri doing the same, as well as Eddie and the others.

We wanted to make sure we were all prepared

I was always under the impression that sorority parties were over-exaggerated in movies and on TV

I was wrong. This was like one of those movie scenes on steroids. I had started off slightly stunned when we approved, uncertain how we would handle an event like this. Dimitri and Jensen assured me that this was really not much.

The rooms were packed with students, all drinking and dancing. Or what some people would call dry humping, but who am I to judge? If I had a normal life and I could go to a party and get drunk with my boyfriend, I'd probably dance in a similar manner with him.

I sidestepped two girls dressed as characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and chuckled. If only they knew.

I managed to find a good view point of the room while keeping Lissa in my line of sight. Lissa was in her realm, fluttering from one group of people to the next. I could see from here all the compliments she got on your costume, and I could see Eddie a few steps away from her, talking to a classmate while watching Lissa.

Lissa slipped away to the kitchen and came back quickly, carrying two beer bottles in hand.

"You know, you're the only one not on duty tonight. One drink won't kill you," Lissa stated, pressing a beer bottle into my hand. I rolled my eyes at her, knowing that she would keep pushing regardless. If I nursed the beer for a while I'd be fine. I sipped the light draft and sighed, flicking my eyes over the crowd. There were actually a lot of people who didn't dress up at all.

How disappointing is that? It's a Halloween party!

"Damn Hathaway! Where did you come up with that idea?"

I groaned while Lissa snickered behind her cup. Jude had found us. Yippie. But I had the perfect response.

"Boyfriend has a western fetish. Thought I'd try it out to see his reaction. Why aren't you dressed up?" I responded, looking over his casual clothes. His lips twitched at my comment about Dimitri before he replaced his look with a smirk.

"A western fetish?"

I snorted behind my mouthful of beer. "Yes. He owns a duster and has a collection of western novels that would impress. I think he's pulling off the costume though," I said as I pointed to towards his moving figure. One upside of having a boyfriend who was as tall as Dimitri; I could find him in any crowd. I could see from here that his eyes were scanning the room until they fell on Lissa and I, and he changed course.

"You know, I think your statement from earlier is backwards. I think I need to beat horny college girls off with a stick," I laughed, smiling up at him. He shook his head and pulled the beer from between my finger, taking a rather large drink from it.

"I forgot what college students were like," Dimitri joked with a chuckle and a head shake.

"How could you forget? You are a college student?" Jude piped up, his tone making me narrow my eyes at him.

Dimitri looked down at Jude and raised a brow. "This isn't my first college experience. I spent four years at a University in St. Petersburg, and then I did a year working at a private school. I thought the parties you two tried to sneak off to were bad," Dimitri said, turning his attention back to me and Lissa.

"Oh god. Remember our graduation party?! You were plastered! How did you ever get back to your room? I always wondered that?" Lissa exclaimed, shaking my arm. I looked at Dimitri and snickered, knowing that I never actually made it back to my dorm room.

"I found her walking around campus. I had to toss her over my shoulder because she could barely stand up straight," Dimitri laughed, poking my hip playfully. "Did Rose mention that she puked on herself that night?"

"Dimitri!" I squealed, covering my face with my hands in horror. He may not have teased me all that much about it when it happened, but it looked like he was using the opportunity. Although, Lissa didn't fare well, and spat her drink out, just missing Jude.

"NO! Is that why you looked so awful the next morning?"

"Fuck me," I groaned, taking another sip of my beer.

"Oh god, those drinks your mom made us suck back before your dad came in," Lissa recounted, and we both shuddered at the memory. I laughed and found Jude looking at me curiously.

"Wait, so you worked at the school that Rose and Lissa went to?" Jude asked.

"Yeah, he worked security for a bit. We started dating after I graduated," I interjected. Jude looked like he wanted to say something else, but Lissa spoke.

"It was really sweet. Dimitri gave her this really sweet gift at graduation and then asked her out a few weeks later. They've been solid since," Lissa said, a slight amount of compulsion laced in her words. Not enough to cause any issues, but just enough to provide the seed to be planted in his mind. An arm slipped around Lissa's arm and from the corner of my eyes I saw that it was Christian, a questioning look on his face.

"You all look like you're deep in conversation over here," Christian said as Eddie came up on his other side.

Lissa laughed. "Yes, we were talking about the bad shape Rose was in after the year end party at school."

Eddie and Christian both snickered, Eddie shaking his head at the memories of the night.

"Remember when you walked in on Rose and Dimi-"

"Ok, enough embarrassing Rose for one night!" I cut in when I realized where Christian's thought was going. I gave Lissa a look and she looked a little sheepish before mentioning getting another drink, dragging Christian and Eddie with her. I shook my head and tipped my beer back, swallowing the bitter taste.

I looked at Dimitri out of the corner of my eye, hoping there would be a way for us to shake Jude when our saving grace arrived. One of the girls from my English class, Claire Clarke appeared out of thin air in a Harry Potter costume.

"Jude! Michael and Lucas have been looking for you! I think they went out back," Claire said, interrupting Jude as he started to speak.

Jude looked to Dimitri and me before nodding and walked away. I sighed and smiled at Claire.

"I love you. Thank you," I said to Claire. She smirked and took a sip from her cup, eyeballing Dimitri.

"You must be the boyfriend. I'm Claire," Claire said extending her hand towards Dimitri. Claire was a sweet girl with copper hair and light brown eyes. The first time I saw her I thought she was only sixteen but turned out that she was closer to Dimitri's age.

"Yes, nice to meet you," Dimitri replied, taking her hand in return. Dimitri asked her about her courses and she was far too excited to explain how much she is enjoying her medicine courses.

"Claire is going to be the best doctor we know," I said supportively. Claire was having her doubts, but I was trying to boost her confidence every chance I got. Claire flashed me an appreciative smile when someone called her name from across the room. She turned back to us and waved before heading into the crowd of people.

I took a moment and leaned into Dimitri, wrapping my arms around his waist. He really looked hot in the whole cowboy get-up. I felt Dimitri kiss the top of my head and squeeze my hip, running his fingers over the hem of my skirt.

"I hope they don't want to stay much longer. I'd much rather be at home," Dimitri said in my ear. I smirked and nodded my head against his chest.

"Yeah, I feel the same. I'm going to ask Lissa when she wants to go. She's had enough to drink."

I flopped into my chair beside Claire and Lissa with a huff, pulling the cup of coffee Claire brought me towards me.

"God, I need this," I groaned in appreciation, drinking deeply for a few minutes. Claire chuckled and raised her brows at me, closing her anatomy textbook.

"Long night with the hunky boyfriend?" Claire asked with a laugh, "I would be up late if my boyfriend looked like that."

I shook my head and gave Lissa a pointed look. "Dimitri and I were both up all night because someone was being particularly loud last night," I explained. Lissa blushed and drank from her cup, already knowing that I wasn't impressed.

At least Dimitri and I kept our noise to a minimum. So far, no complaints from our housemates.

I sighed quietly when another body sat across from me. I looked at Claire before flicking my eyes back to the person.

"Hello, Jude. You're looking bright-eyed this morning. I almost expected you to be still drunk," I joked.

Jude rolled his eyes before looking at Lissa and Claire. "Can I talk to you for a moment? I promise it'll only be a few minutes."

I raised my brow before looking to Lissa, but her voice rang through my mind.

We will just be at the table behind him.

Lissa and Claire got up, Lissa with a small smile and picked up her coffee. I watched them walk and Lissa purposely sat so I could look right over Jude's shoulder to see me. I gave her a thankful smile before turning my attention to Jude.

"What's up?"

"I just wanted to apologize. I came on a little too strong and didn't back off after you made it clear you had a boyfriend. And I'm sorry for the comment I made about Dimitri. He's actually a really cool guy," Jude said, stunning me into momentary silence.

"Uh…thank you. I wasn't expecting that."

Jude barked out a laugh and shrugged. "I'm not always a douche. Just half the time. But I really am sorry."

"It's fine, just remember that the next time you hit on me. Dimitri may not have hit you, but I will."

Jude chuckled and nodded his head. "Yeah. I don't think I'd want to be hit by him. He's got at least a foot on me."

I laughed quietly. "He's got a foot on most people."

"He mentioned last night that he went to a university in St. Petersburg. That must have been amazing," Jude said wistfully, and I could see something in his eyes that I identified as longing.

"Yes. He went to with his best friend for a few years. I think for business. He doesn't talk about it much," I replied, rolling my cup between my hands. "We are actually going to Russia in the spring. I'm going to meet his family."

Jude smirked at my response. "You'll have to take pictures if you go sightseeing. I'd love to go. I actually planned on going to school overseas. I actually applied to a university in Turkey, but my parents said if I went they wouldn't help me pay for it."

"Is that why you came here? Because it was the school your parents choose for you to go to?"

Jude nodded. "If I had it my way, I would study architecture, but instead I'm doing political science. It's what my parents wanted."

"Doesn't Lehigh offer a major for architecture?"

Jude rolled his eyes and snorted a laugh. "Yeah, but it's bullshit. Going to Istanbul would be the dream."

"I hope to see it someday. Turns out I was born there."

"Really?!"

"Yeah. My dad is Turkish. My parents were travelling when my mom went into early labour. I think I lived there for about a year," I said, fishing my wallet out of my bag and thumbed through a few of the photos I kept in it. I found my favourite one of my dad and I and showed it to him.

Jude looked it over for a moment before handing it back.

"You look a lot like him."

"Thanks. You know, you're actually pleasant when you aren't being a douche."

"I get that a lot. I'll let you get back to your gossip session," he said standing up. As he walked away I called out.

"Jude!"

"Yeah?"

"Fuck what your parents say. Follow your dream, even if it pisses them off."

Hello hello! Happy Update Day.

I'm sorry the chapter is posted so late... it is due to two reasons.

1. I may or may not have binged the entire third season of Handmaid's Tale today.

2. I thought I finished my chapter...and I was wrong!

This is the last chapter before the epilogue.

I want to take a moment to thank every single reader I love you all and I am so happy to have had you all along this amazing journey.

Let me know what you think!:)