"Hey Mase glad you found us," Rose started, "You remember Jill and Eddie of course,"

she said as Mason shook Eddie's hand briskly.
"This our old friend Adrian Ivashkov and his daughter Paris." Mason
leaned over in front of me to shake my father's hand and I got an
amazing whiff of his minty smelling shampoo.

"Pleasure to meet you both," Mason said looking at my father. Mason
made no attempt to look at me as he sat in the only empty chair at the
table, next to me.

I was frozen in my chair as I observed what was going on around me.

It felt like the synapses in my brain weren't firing correctly. This guy was Mason, I felt like maybe I was being punked.

The waitress came over and we all ordered. Luckily for me the

restaurant had a huge menu due to everyone's different sleep
schedules. I was able to find something to eat I thought I might be
able to get down. I actually sighed in relief when I saw the cup of
coffee placed in front of me.

After the waitress left the table Dad asked Rose the million
dollar question, "How in the world did both of you get this whole week
off?"

Rose smiled seeming to expect this question, "Lissa makes us both
take one whole week off every year and the boys get this week off of
school so it works for us. It is way too hard to leave Lissa during
the summer with all the traveling she does. If we stay at court it
isn't really a vacation. Coming here became a great way to spend time
with the boys and exercise some old demons."

After Rose's heavy admission the table erupted in some lighter
conversation. "Dad started telling Jill and Eddie a really funny
story about how Ben tried to jump off the roof last week into a snow
pile he had made. Rose was trying to get Dimitri to agree to take her
out dancing later in the evening.

Mason and I, however, were completely quiet. I started to wonder
what my problem was. I talked to all sorts of guys everyday. It wasn't
uncommon for me to have to interact with whole groups of different
boys in my classes. While I wanted to tell myself Mason was not a big
deal something about him felt different. I had never had this kind of
extreme reaction to anyone before and it scared me a little. With no
idea how to start any kind of conversation with him I tried for the
obvious.

"So Mason how are the trails? I'm excited to get out there and
see for myself. If they are half as nice as my room it will be
impressive," I said trying to be casual.

"They're fine. If you do decide to try and ski you really should
take a class first," he remarked stoically.

"I'm actually pretty good on my board. I've been looking forward
to trying out some of the more challenging runs," I responded
cheerfully.

Mason rolled his eyes in his first real display of personality
and ranted, "Why is it that everyone thinks that they can ski? People
just buy expensive gear and think that is some how a substitution for
actual skill. This is why people get hurt! Some of these runs you're
talking about take real talent and practice to successfully navigate.
Would it really hurt to try something easier? You are just going to
end up getting in someone's way."

I was totally speechless. As I looked around the table for help I
noticed Eddie and Dad looking at me questioningly. This was not the
place to get in a fight. I just met Mason maybe there was something I
didn't understand about him. It was possible he had been in or seen
someone have a terrible accident.

"Have you been injured," I tried.

Mason looked offended, "No I wasn't injured. But I see this
every year these spoiled entitled kids come here and think they're so
amazing. They always crash or plow into someone else. They have no
right to be on the trail in the first place. "

The whole table was staring now. Jill had her mouth open like
she wanted to say something in my defense but had no idea where to
start.
After a minute of uncomfortable silence Rose squeaked out, "Geez Mason."

Standing up I excused myself and headed toward the ladies room. I
had a million questions running through my mind. Who did this guy
think he was? Was this guy, who just met me, calling me an entitled
brat? How could I of had such a visceral reaction to such a total
jerk?!

I finished up in the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I didn't
see a spoiled brat. I was not going to let this guy think I was some
kind of push over so with new resolve I straightened my spine and
headed back in the direction of the table. Hopefully the food would be
there and I could eat quickly.

Three quarters of the way back a lovely middle aged woman in a
well tailored navy blue suit walked toward me and asked questioningly,
" Excuse me are you Paris"?

I was again thrown totally off balance. "Yes Ma'am my name is
Paris," I said hoping this was an old friend of my father.

"My name is Christiana Zeklos and I am a close friend of your
Grandmother's," she said with a slight knowing smile. "She asked me
to find you, make sure your room was acceptable and introduce myself.
Daniella was so sad that her obligations have kept her from arriving
till Monday but I assured her that I would personally check on you and
make sure you made some proper friends."

"That was very thoughtful of you Ma'am, it's very nice to meet
you," I said cautiously.

"Well obviously I was going to ring your room but when I saw you
here I had to introduce myself. I knew right away it was you, you look
so much like Daniella! You really are a lucky girl," Christiana
continued. "I would really like to introduce you to my son, Mathew,
he will help you get into the right parties and social events. Mathew will
be so pleased when I tell him how pretty you are."

I didn't think anything could surprise me at this point but the
ease in which the backhanded compliments rolled off her tongue was
truly impressive. I gave her my best fake smile and lied, "That is
just so nice of you. I'm sure my Grandmother will be so appreciative
for everything."

I could see the wheels turning in her head as she thought about
what sort of social climbing I was going to help her achieve, "Well
that's just who I am. I really love to help when I can. Of course if
you were to mention it to Daniella it wouldn't hurt."

I excused myself to go back to the table after promising to be
in touch with her soon. I was thinking handling Christiana was a kind
of trial run for my Grandmother. When I returned our food was being
served and the atmosphere was light again.

Jill leaned over around Dad and looked at me inquisitively,
"What did Christiana want"?

"My best guess is that she doesn't want anything from me but she
wants something pretty bad from my Grandmother," I replied honestly.
Jill tried to question me further but I promised to give her the whole
story later. I couldn't help it there was food in front of me.

I was just about done eating my meal and really starting to feel
better when Rose spoke up, "Paris what are you a junior this year?"

"Yes technically I am but I'm taking mostly senior classes. I
tested out of all the languages so that gave me time in my schedule
each year to take more advanced math classes."

Something seemed to snap in Mason and he looked me in the eyes
for the first time. I actually shivered a little bit with excitement
until he spoke, "A junior in what".

"High school," I said as the words sort of just hung there.

"You go to a normal high school," he said as if not believing the
words coming out of his mouth. "But where do you take your defensive
classes? Who trains you? I mean it can't be easy to learn and do hands
on training when you are taking other unnecessary classes."

Dad looked like he wanted to strangle Mason. Mason's tone was
really out of line but Dad just looked at Dimitri hoping to get some
help that never came.

"I don't need to learn any of things you are implying. While I do
respect the work the guardians do it isn't for me," I added
diplomatically.

Eddie was trying to bite his tongue but couldn't help adding,
"Paris you know I respect your choices but I would feel so much better
if you would let me show you a few things to help you protect
yourself. It really couldn't hurt could it?"

"Eddie we have had this discussion a million times, I know your
heart is in the right place but I am not a fighter. I just don't have
it in me," I punctuated the last three words to try to get them to
understand.

"Wait you aren't going to be a guardian. You don't have any idea
how to protect yourself or you father," Mason interrupted. "You
realize this is what we do, Dhampirs are guardians. Your options are
going to be very limited," he replied with a disgusted look on his
face.

I was done with this conversation. I was done with this guy.
Looking him right in the face I said in a quiet menacing tone, "You
don't know me! You just met me thirty minutes ago and the first
conversation we had you called me a spoiled brat. There are many
things you know nothing about and me and my many many options is one
of them." I stood up and looked around the table stopping to look Rose
in the eyes and continued, "Please excuse me I am totally finished
with this meal. Dad, I'll see you in the rooms. Jill, I'll call you
later.

I walked out as quickly as my legs would carry me. We had only
just gotten here a few hours ago and I just wanted to roll in a ball
and cry. I couldn't or wouldn't let myself be defeated already.

My only defense was that I really expected more out of these people
my parents treasured as friends. When I left the table Dimitri looked
satisfied with his son and the ridiculous display.

Rose looked like she wanted to climb under the table which was
totally out of her no holds bared personality I had heard so much
about. One of the reasons my Mother had agreed to this trip was she
trusted Rose to help me.

As I stumbled into my room I couldn't help but wonder what did I
get myself into.?

******Thank you so much to everyone that has taken a chance on my
story. You have no idea how much it means to me and I love all the
comments and help with my silly mistakes. I promise that Mason has his
reasons for being a jerk and it will all be revealed soon. I love the original characters as

much as you and I want to do them proud. Now that Mason has been sort of introduced

I am going to do a Mason POV for
different parts in a different story so look for it under my pen name.
I hope to have one up in a few days.
Happy Reading Everyone !