I walked over to Stark smirking at him the whole way. Karma's a bitch isn't it? Too bad he couldn't read my mind, but then again I think the look I was giving him said it all.

"What's our relationship partner?" I ask in a western accent.

"This is not happening. I'm going to go talk to Topaz."

"Be my guest." I sit down, and watch as he walks up to her and starts yammering away. She gave him the same disappointed look, and he faltered a bit, and then he was walking back towards me. Everyone else was leaving the classroom.

"She said no to you too huh?"

He glared at me, "You could have told me you already asked."

"Now where would the fun be in that? Now, I repeat, what's our relationship?"

He mumbled something incoherent.

"You might want to speak up if you.."

"We're dating, have been for a year and a half." He cut me off and tossed the paper at me. And sure enough it said exactly that.

He raised his hand calling Topaz over. What was he going to ask her now?

"Now what exactly does this whole mock thing entail? Do we have to pretend we're dating outside of class? Only inside of class? What?"

"Very good question. You have to do enough in order to be able to write about it in the journal. If neither one of you have ever dated anyone before then it would be hard to imagine what it would be like. However if you have, you may find it easier to just talk in class and discuss mock dating situations. It's solely up to you. I would suggest, if you are dating, to go on at least one date. See what it's like. But it's up to you."

"Thank you." Stark's voice held some hidden humor in it. She walked away and he looked back at me.

"Well that simplifies things. I don't see why we would need to date outside of class. We can discuss the implications of dating, and whatever the pieces of paper change about our relationship."

He said relationship like it was poison on his tongue. I had thought this was a way to make him suffer, deal with my presence here, but it would seem I was wrong. His tone was growing colder with each word.

"We still need to get to know each other. We don't have to date. If you're afraid of someone finding out, I'm not going to tell anyone." I was pleading. Had I really gone back to this? I go from anger to pathetic in an instant. What is wrong with me?

"I hardly need to get to know you. You're just like every other girl. Nothing special. Hardly someone I would actually date for a year and a half."

I slapped him hard across the face. I hope I left a welt. Topaz's eyes were wide as I approached her desk. I leaned over and signed Starks and my name, and our relationship. I gave her a small smile before leaving the classroom. I walked to my room trying not to think. But I felt the tears fall just the same. I tried wiping them away, but they kept coming.

He didn't need to say those things. It wasn't my fault we were paired together. It wasn't my fault. I stopped moving, and collapsed in a dark corner, my head in my hands. I didn't need or want this drama. I didn't want to feel anything.

A small meow caused me to jump slightly. Hades blended in with the darkness, but he nudged my leg with his head, and purred. I petted him slowly. How is it that the one person I feel most comfortable around isn't even a person, but a cat? I sniffle, willing the tears to stop.

"Is somebody there?" the deep voice startled me and I accidentally kicked Hades.

He hissed, partly at me and partly at the person looking down at us.

"I'm just resting." I hiccup.

"Faith? Is that you?" Erik had now taken a step into the light that allowed me to recognize him. How had he known it was me?

"Yeah."

"Here, get up. It can't be clean down there." He offered me his hand. I tentatively took it and he pulled me up.

"What happened to you?" I touched my face, and knew my mascara had run down my cheeks. I must look a site. The concern in his voice had a weird effect on me, and the small control I had over the tears disappeared. They started coming faster than before.

"Faith, it's all right. Whatever happened, it's all right." He pulled me into a hug, and held me tightly. I felt stupid whimpering into his shirt. He was a professor for crying out loud.

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

"Come on, we'll go to my classroom. I'll make you some tea."

I smiled slightly and allowed him to steer me back towards his classroom. The tears were less frequent now, and I was able to feel the effect of my outburst. I felt shameful, and completely ridiculous.

"You want to talk about it?" he asks, ushering me to a desk.

"Not really." I admit, knowing I would feel even more foolish. And deep down I knew I couldn't. It wasn't my place to tell Erik about Stark and Zoey. And it isn't like she is cheating on him, but what else could it lead to? I shake my head… not wanting to think anymore about Stark.

"Might I comment on your performance today in class then?" he asks, starting to heat up a pot of water.

"You mean my one minute monologue?" I question, chuckling for the first time since I had started crying.

"That's exactly what I meant. You were…" and for a moment he looked directly in my eyes and I didn't know what to feel. He shook his head slightly and continued, "Fantastic. I wasn't expecting you to be."

"Theatre was my life back home." I admit, looking down at my feet.

"You were involved in plays at your high school?"

"Yes, and no. My mom owns a small theatre company. I participated as much as I could. So sometimes that got in the way of school productions. But with my Mom I was happy, so I didn't think I was missing out on much."

"That sounds amazing Faith." He says, pouring me a cup of hot water, "What kind of tea do you like?"

"I'm not picky. I've yet to find a tea I don't like."

"A girl after my own heart." He chuckles.

"What about you? Did you always want to be in theatre?"

"I thought I wanted to be an actor, be in films. But now I don't know anymore. What with Z being here, and I kind of like this whole teaching gig." I took the cup of tea he was offering me, and blew on it lightly.

"Zoey means a lot to you doesn't she?" I ask before I could stop myself.

"Yes. I dated Aphrodite before her, and that was all wrong." I choked on the tea going down my throat. He dated Aphrodite??? He laughed at my expression.

"It was before Zoey had arrived, and I can't explain it. Zoey and I just clicked."

"Seems to happen to a lot of people." I mutter.

"What did you say?"

"Oh nothing." I take another sip of tea.

"Do you like musicals Faith?"

I looked up at him, not expecting that question. But he looked serious enough.

"Yes actually. I love them. I love singing almost as much as acting." I admit.

"Me too." His smile grew larger with every passing second. It seems him and I have a lot in common.

"Can I ask you a personal question?" I ask, somehow drawing courage from somewhere inside me.

He hesitated but nodded just the same.

"Why do you think you craved my blood so much yesterday?"

He flinched at the question, but didn't throw his mug down and rush away or anything like that. He looked contemplative.

"I don't know. I've been thinking about it since it happened, and nothing explains why I would want it so badly. You have a different colored mark yes, but so do others and I didn't want their blood. Whenever you're near me I can actually feel it pulsing through you."

I involuntarily inhaled sharply.

"Don't worry Faith. I won't hurt you. I was just speaking my thoughts out loud is all."

"Something's wrong with me." I could feel the tears rising up again.

"Faith, there is nothing wrong with being different. We evolve, and change. You are beautiful, interesting, and smart. Hardly the work of something horrible."

"Coming from the guy who proclaimed that I was evil." I laugh bitterly.

"My dream had to be wrong Faith. I didn't get my affinity until shortly after I became fully Vampyre. It's still new. I was wrong." He had stood and walked towards me and knelt beside me so he could look up into my eyes. "Whatever made you so sad was wrong too. You're going to flourish here and beyond. Just believe in yourself."

I leaned down and wrapped my arms around him. Who knew that the guy who had almost killed me yesterday would be helping me through an emotional breakdown today. "Thank you." I tell him, pulling away.

"Anytime Faith." He stands and takes the empty mug from me.

"I guess I should get to class. Yay literature."

"Yay indeed. If you ever want to talk or go over some theatre stuff my door is always open." He gave me one last smile, and then I left. I practically tripped over Hades when I walked out of the classroom.

"Why the hell are you lying in front of a door?"

He hissed at me, and looked back at the closed door. "Oh.. I locked you out huh? Sorry boy." I kneel stroking him gently. "Forgive me?"

I swear he nodded his head.

The day went by uneventful. I was in a daze for most of it. I took notes in class sat with Taylor at dinner, and got in bed before Aphrodite was even back in the room. I was exhausted and over everything that happened today. I texted my mom good morning and cuddled with Hades before I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Buzzzzzzz. Buzzzzzzz.

Silence.

Buzzzzzz. Buzzzzzzzz.

"I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T ANSWER YOUR PHONE I AM GOING TO BREAK IT ON YOUR HEAD!" Aphrodite's voice jerked me awake. The light in the room was pretty bright. What time was it? I grabbed the phone and flipped it open.

"Hello?" I yawn.

"Oh Good your up. Get ready, I am going to be there in twenty minutes."

"Nichole? Is that you? What are you talking about??"

"We're going out. Come on; get ready. I'm taking you out clubbing. So look hot."

"I don't think that's such a great..."

"Just do it." She shouts into the receiver and then she was gone. I groan. Today was supposed to be sleep in until I can't sleep anymore day. But I am up at the same time I was yesterday. And then it registered. Nichole had driven all the way from our town to here! She was so crazy. I hurriedly showered and blew dry my hair. And then I came to my wardrobe. I had nothing for clubbing. She knew that! I always borrowed her clothes. I threw on some jeans and a tank top. Maybe by dressing down she would change her mind and we could just hang out. I grabbed my bag of make-up and only got to covering my mark when my phone started vibrating again. I jumped on it to keep from waking Aphrodite up again.

"Yes?" I whisper.

"I'm here!" she shouts excitedly.

"I'm not entirely done. I haven't finished my make-up."

"Bring it with you! I want to see you now!!" And then she hung up. She was a force to be reckoned with. So I grabbed my make-up, my phone, my ID, and ran outside. I had no idea where she would be. Apparently I just follow the stone path, because it led me out past the horse stables and to a street where the car was waiting patiently. She turned off the car, jumped out and ran towards me.

"I've missed you so much!" she yells in my ear as we hug.

"It's been three days." I chuckle.

"So you're saying you didn't miss me?"

"Of course not! It felt like three years!" I smirk. She helped me pick up all the stuff I dropped.

"What the hell are you wearing?" she asks, suddenly noticing my attire.

"Listen, I don't own any club wearing type clothes. You know this."

"Shopping it is!" she cries in the midst of a happy dance.

I laugh the rest of the way to her car. She made me so happy.

"Buckle up." She states, starting the car back up again.

I did as she ordered and looked out the window. There leaning against the side of the barn was Stark. He must have been out practicing again this morning. He was staring directly at us. I gasped slightly and faced the front again.

"What is it hunny?" she asks looking out my side window.

"Nothing. Just drive. It's shopping time."

"That's what I like to hear." And with that she pressed on the gas. I couldn't help but glance once more at the barn, but he was gone.