The house father of Eddies dorm let me walk upstairs after I had told him that I was just going to see my brother. Smirking about how easy it would be to sneak into a room of some random guy, I climbed up the stairs and knocked at the door. As he opened I walked across the room, flung myself onto the small sofa, which was as I guessed in every room.

"So?" he asked while seating himself next to me.

"I don't like this. Ed. I mean you know what it can transform to if it's getting too serious. And it doesn't seem to me like they're far from it." He gave a sigh

"I know. I talked to Ambrose, my roommate, he said he isn't really getting involved with all this. So maybe we can just finish this year graduate on good terms and walk away before anything escalates." Looking troubled by saying that I knew he wouldn't like it to get out of control either way, us being involved or not "Maybe... what do you think would happen if we stay away from both parties."

"Nothing I would prefer. Ambrose tried, he was beaten up a lot in those few weeks. After getting his leg broken he joined the moroi." I gulped, there was definitely worse, though I wasn't going to let them beat me into a pulp.

"So we just join the Moroi and concentrate on school. At least you do, I'll do what I can best." He raised his eyebrows,

"That would be getting into trouble." rolling my eyes I answered

"No the other thing Eating?" we started to laugh until the door opened.

"Hey man, oh hey you must be Rose. I'm Ambrose, Eddie's roommate." Man, were there any ugly guys at this school though saying he would be not ugly would be an understatement. His muscular body was just the start, curly black hair and a deep gold skin made him look like a greek god.

Bringing myself out the trance his appearance made me fall into I spoke

"Hi, yeah we talked about you a second ago .. and the parties tonight."

He nodded in thoughts and I decided it was time to go. So I told them to see them later and went back to my dorm building.

I stopped in my tracks as a thought crossed my mind.

"So Berta? How are you today?" Smiling her usual smile she also raised her brows.

"What do you want Rose?" I grinned, she knew me already.

"Well…, how long have you been working here?" I was told by Lissa that she actually was a teacher for PE and history, but filling in for Sonya Tanner who was currently sick.

"Rose?" She looked at me questionably,

"Yeah?"

"What is it?" god dammit! I would celebrate the day when I was able to keep a secret from her.

"Ehh… I was just wondering about… Did you know my parents?" I couldn't get it out of my mind that I was encouraged my whole life for the seemingly most important thing at this school. Mary would never lie to us, but maybe she knew that my parents would enable those scholarships for us sooner or later, later in this case. Had this been our preparation? And why the hell would they send us here in the first place, they should know about the fighting.

As I got out of my thoughts I noticed Alberta hadn't answered yet though her expression had changed. She didn't smile anymore and her eyes were off somewhere else.

"We will talk about it some other time." before I could say something to dig again she stopped me.

"You should really go. Lissa is probably waiting for you. Have fun tonight."

Not wondering about how she knew I was supposed to go to Lissa or why she told me to have fun, I was rather confused by her distant behavior.

Lissa's actually was waiting for me but didn't seem to mind.

"Rose I've the perfect dress for you. Actually it's Natalie's though she can't fill it out like you could, it should fit and when I saw it, oh it's the perfect match."

She started rambling through her closet, which was already half empty, clothes lying all around her room.

"Wow slow down Liss. Didn't you say it's going to be in the woods?"

"Yes it is, but that's surely no reason to not wear a dress. You are going to look so beautiful."

"Yeah no offence Liss but next time. I don't think I should wear a dress today." I wasn't into dresses. Sure to some occasions like homecoming or prom I didn't need to be forced into one, but for just some party I prefered casual clothes.

She looked slightly disappointed

"So let me at least do your makeup.", laughing a little at her need to dress me up I agreed. Lissa had already styled her hair so it took us a little less than an hour to get her dressed and both of our makeups.

She picked a green dress, matching her eyes and later also her makeup.

I ended up with just some little changes and was impressed how Lissa had controlled herself by not exaggerating it.

We texted Eddie and Christian to meet us outdoors, therefore we were on our way through the woods just a few minutes later.

I was surprised that the school grounds where that big, Liss explained we wouldn't get near the fences.

We arrived at a clearing with a lot of people, music and some booze. People were dancing, laughing, chatting like at every other party.

I sighed, thinking about if I should get a drink or better stay sober. Lissa and Christian excused themselves pretty fast to go off dancing. I was standing besides Eddie who seemed as lost as I was. It wasn't like me to stay in the back while the party was moving in the right direction though usually I knew the people on those parties.

"Hey girl, Eddie! Glad to see you guys here. Come on I'll introduce you."

so we went to meet her friends, walking through the crowd someone grabbed my arm. As I turned I recognized Ambrose, "Wanna get outta here?" I wasn't sure what to say, I would love to right now, but not like this. He smirked and if he could read my thoughts he explained further. "Not like this. I just don't like all this. I won't try anything… at least as long as you don't want it." Winking at me he guided us away from the clearing and the people.

We walked in silence for a while, it was comfortable. "Ed told me what happened."

I knew right away what he was talking about, but wasn't sure how I should feel about Eddie talking about something like that after knowing him not even two days.

"You two are getting along good, mh?"

"Yep, Eddie is a good guy, he's more mature than others." I nodded and we talked for half an hour about some basics of our lives.

"So I should get back now, my brother is kind of scared about all this. If he doesn't find me he is going to freak out." I laughed, he had told me about him, that they were often regarded as twins though there was a two year gap. I couldn't imagine a guy like Ambrose being scared to death.

"Yeah sure I'm going to join you in a few minutes." it's not like I was going to get lost, the others were still in view and hearing range.

He nodded and walked away with fast steps. I was walking through the trees with some swerves, thinking about how Mason, his sister Meredith, Ed and I used to play, as kids, catch in the woods behind the Ashford house.

I bumped into someone. Taking my gaze away from the ground I found another one of those not ugly guys, he was hot though I catched the smell of booze and cigarettes, though he seemed to be old enough to do both legally.

His hair all ruffled up, although it was definitely supposed to appear that way.

Eyes shining in an unique dark green, he smirked down at me.

"Sorry." I nodded in apology, starting to leave him as he said,

"I'm Adrian… Ivashkov." I turned around in surprise.

"So you're one of those.."

"I am. And you are Rose Hathaway." Alright, this was getting weird,

"It's Castille now. How do you know about that name?"

"I heard a lot about you though they forgot to mention how beautiful you are, little dhampir." now it was my turn to smirk at him.

"You should check those sources. I'm not joining the dhampirs."

"I know, but you should though."

"Has anyone ever told you how weird you are?"

He smiled down at me, letting his gaze wander from my face to my body and back up to my face. Usually I would have felt offended but there was some kindness in his eyes that prevented my from it.

"May I escort you back?" I nodded, slightly overtaxed by his use of words, nevertheless we started walking.

"I've met your father." I stopped in my tracks, turning to face him again, trying to form a question out of the millions I had in my head right now. When I was younger I asked Mary about him but she refused to tell my anything.

"Ivashkov, Rose." I groaned loudly, not now, not him. Dimitri had stepped up to us. Hell, why were all of them walking around randomly in the woods.

"Belikov, you're kind of interrupting right now." by Adrians tone I guessed he wasn't very fond of him now, too.

"Yeah whatever, I'm not here to talk to you. Rose do you have a moment?"

"Not now, later I promise. But really could you just.. leave." I didn't want to be rude, but my all of my brain was occupied with questions coming about about nearly everything involving my father, so I couldn't think straight to chose my words carefully. Regarding to Dimitris clenching fist I wasn't successful. He cleared his throat, looking at me with pleading eyes.

"It can't wait."

"We'll just finish our talk later." trying to respond, Adrian was already disappearing in the darkness.

"Fuck!" I cursed, getting angry I snapped at Dimitri,

"What the fuck is so important now." catching him off guard he stepped back.

Crossing his arms, his slightly surprised look changed into one of anger, too.

"Don't join the moroi." Throwing up my arms into the air I almost screamed at him

"That's anything but important. Hell I won't change my mind. If you'll excuse me now I need to find Adrian again." trying to storm off he positioned himself in front of me.

"What were you even doing out here with him?" Has he ever heard of privacy?!

"Why do you think anything in my life would be your business?"

Gazing away for a second he breathed loudly before taking his stare back to me.

"He isn't any appropriate company for you."

I studied his features

"Are you jealous?" Raising just one of his eyebrows he got even hotter.

"You know if that's the reason you want me to get on your side, don't worry." I took a few small steps towards him until our bodies almost touched, I felt drawn to him. Sure he wasn't that sympathetic, but not kissing him would be a waste. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he took a step away from me, so he needed to stretch his arms.

"Rose, I'm not jealous neither is that a reason I want you on my side. You're a good fighter, I just don't want someone like you as an enemy." I gulped, averting my eyes to the ground, smiling weakly "Yeah sure. But no."

I turned around, not daring to look back. What did just happen? Usually I didn't even need to make the first step, but if I did I never got rejected and certainly not like that. He practically told me he I was unattractive like he wouldn't even think of me in that way. Why had I even wanted to kiss him, I just met him the other day?!

Embarrassment wasn't a feeling I knew well, but I recognised it. Feeling horrible, I got angry and drunk, because back at the party I definitely needed a drink.

After a few cups people started to move, I didn't know where to, but still followed.

"Rose? Are you alright?" Eddie appeared next to me looking slightly worried.

"Yeah just some annoying conversations."

"Did you drink?"

"Not too much." he nodded, but I knew he wouldn't let me out of his sight, I was glad about that. I was still able to walk and talk but my head was hurting and spinning, which couldn't be from the alcohol already, still it took its toll on me.

Closing my eyes for a while I hold onto Eddie's arm to calm myself down a bit.

"Just tell me if you need anything." nodding I mumbled,

"Sure, it's just some crazy headache." , my brain was probably overloaded with all the thoughts about my father, Adrian and Dimitri.

We stopped somewhere in the woods and it got silent until someone started something like a speech about tradition. I was pretty sure it was Adrian, which was confirmed as I opened my eyes again, searching for him.

He was standing in front of us, but not just us in use for moroi, a few steps away from us, the dhampirs were positioned.

"...so welcome to all the new students, please come to the front. The crowds opened, Sophomores stepped up to the front, Ed and me going with them.

We divided into two groups,

"Dhampirs, moroi, look at your new fellows. Sophomores, Rose and Eddie the group you will return to right now, will be the one to protect you and the one you will fight for. You are able to choose now." probably just procedure seeing as everyone already knew where to go. So we left the front again and Adrian recommended attention again.

"The tradition says to start the year with fights between four seniors."

Two people, looking a lot younger than the rest of us walked up to him, holding a bowl each with notes inside.

Adrian pulled out one from each "So the first ones will be Dimitri Belikov" murmurs went through the crowds. "and Lissa Dragomir." My eyes nearly popped out, that wasn't going to happen was it?

"I'll do it." raising my hand, I surprised myself. Oh shit, what the hell is wrong with me. If I had waited for second Chris surely would have volunteered to.

Moving back up there, I found myself looking in those chocolate brown eyes, studying me, searching for something.

People went silent and I got into a fighting stance "Come on, comrade. Show me what you got!" maybe it wasn't such a bad idea at all, I certainly would release my anger at him.

"Rose…" his tone trying to tell me to calm down, but I wouldn't budge from this.

"No,you are not going to reject me in both ways." I hissed at him, so no one else could hear, I could somehow cope with him not being interested in me, but then he shouldn't have a problem fighting, should he?

Giving a sigh of resign, he got himself into a fighting postion as well. I just realised it was the first time after Mason's death that I fought again. I was distracted by that when Dimitri kicked at the side of my legs, with less force than expected though enough to let me fall. Before I could get up again, he slung his arms around my neck, moving my up to my knees. He was right behind me, holding me in a stranglehold, whispering "Give up, now."

"No way." I choked back, using the last breath I got my view turned black, slowly sliding into unconsciousness I promised to myself to get back at him.

A/NSooo, there is a lot of weird stuff going on. What is the big secret about Rose parents?And what is Rose going to do about Dimitri?I really appreciate the reviews, it's really motivating, so thank you guys for that.@SuckerforDelenaYou're right I forgot that I already mentioned it, and I aggree with the bonding thing, I promise there will be some of it.For the high school terms and well just they the systems works I need to do a lot of research so plz tell if I got there something wrong, the system over here in Germany works totally different.Now, my PC is still broken, though now it's my fault writing down the wrong adress. I hope it's going to work next week again so I can upload faster.