Disclaimer: I don't own Bloodlines. Richelle Mead does and I don't have the money to buy it, unfortunately.

Author's Note: Hi, fanfictioners! This chapter will be in Nicolaclair's POV and it will not be quite as long as the last one so sorry about that. It will still be pretty long, though. Anyway, please review and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4: The First Day Back

Nicolaclair's POV

I was woken the next morning by the annoying sound of my phone's alarm. I groaned and turned the repulsive thing off. I was not a morning person by any means and especially not today. That was because today was the first day of school after the way too short summer holidays.

As I made my slow journey to the bathroom, memories from the night before replayed in my mind. I winced internally. I couldn't believe I'd broken down like that. And worse, I'd done it in front of Billy of all people! What must Billy think of me now? He probably thinks I'm some silly, weeping girl, always relying on others to protect her. That wasn't an impression I wanted anyone to have about me especially since it was definitely not true.

I pushed my troubled thoughts aside and got ready for school. When I was done, I knocked loudly on the boys' room door.

"Are you lot up yet?" I called through the door.

"No," A sleepy voice, unmistakably Liam's, answered. "What time is it?"

"Half past seven," I said. "And I wasn't talking to you, anyway."

"Everyone else has been up for ages," Liam informed me irritably. "They're all downstairs."

I didn't respond but I did head downstairs to find the three guardians drinking coffee and talking quietly in the living room.

"Morning, guys." I said brightly. "I hope you all slept well."

"Very well, thanks." Eddie answered me.

"I didn't sleep very well," Liam said, coming down the stairs.

"No one asked you." Billy snapped. It was the first thing he'd said since I'd come down and I was a bit surprised at the amount of anger in his voice.

Liam didn't respond but he did glare at Billy pretty viciously. Neil, noticing his dirty look, changed the subject.

"We should get going," He told us. "We don't want to be late, especially not on the first day."

The four of us gathered our stuff and left the house to go to Uddingston Grammar, the school that I'd attended for 2 years now. Thankfully, Liam went to a different school so he didn't travel with us.

It had been decided that all three guardians would accompany me to school. Although I thought that it was wholly unnecessary, I didn't want to get on Lissa's bad side.

"So which class are you in for registration?" Billy asked me as I studied my new timetable.

"B108, you?"

"B102," Billy answered. "Come on, I'll walk you to class."

I followed him into the B-wing corridor and decided to take advantage of the brief moment of alone time.

"Billy, about last night-" I started but he cut me off almost immediately.

"It's OK," He told me gently. "Don't be embarrassed about it. I won't say anything to the others. And besides, everyone gets upset sometimes."

"That's not what I was going to say." I said quietly.

"Oh, OK what was it then?"

"I just wanted to say thanks, for being there for me last night."

Billy smiled at me softly. "You don't need to thank me," He said simply. "I was glad that I could be there for you."

"Aww, that's one of the nicest things I've ever heard."

"I try my best." Billy replied with a wink as he slipped into his class.

I smiled slightly and headed into my own registration class. I liked most people in my class. They were mostly all right but with a few very noticeable exceptions.

"Awright, mate!" A voice called to me. I bit my lip to keep myself from groaning.

"Hi, Declan." I said. Declan Smith was one of my least favourite people in this class. He wasn't particularly mean, he was just very annoying and loud.

"How was your summer?" I asked. I didn't like Declan much but I had to at least try to be polite.

"Not bad, how was yours?" He asked easily.

"It was all right, thanks." I answered and then I turned to talk to my friends, Jenny and Zoe Browning.

"Hi, Jenny! Hey Zoe!" I greeted them happily.

"Hey, Nicolaclair!" They replied enthusiastically.

"Where's Georgea?" I asked curiously.

"We don't know," Jenny said. "We haven't seen her yet."

"Oh well," I said brightly. "I'm sure I'll see her later."

"Probably." Zoe said and then we chatted eagerly about what we'd done this summer.

After registration, I had PE. This week, we would be playing hockey and I was looking forward to it quite a lot.

There was a small problem though. The sun was out this morning and I was already starting to feel uncomfortable and I knew that if I fainted, I could be sent home to my sister and Andy who would not be happy.

"Are you all right, Nicolaclair?" My teacher, Miss Whitley asked me.

"Yes, Miss," I said. "I just feel a little dizzy, that's all."

"Well, tell me if it gets any worse." She told me and I nodded in agreement.

Thankfully, I managed to struggle my way through the period and felt proud of myself. The sun really had been hot and I hadn't been very confident in my sun tolerance.

After PE, I had Latin. I really liked Latin and I thought that I wasn't too bad at it.

"Now," Mr Green told the class. "Who can tell me how to say dog in Latin?"

A few hands went up and Mr Green asked the boy who's hand went up first.

"Yes, Ryan?"

"Canos, sir." Ryan said smugly.

"Not quite," Mr Green said. "Anyone else think they know?"

I put up my hand and he nodded at me.

"Canis, sir?" I asked.

"Very good." He said. "Now everyone open your books to page 14."

The rest of that period passed uneventfully and before I knew it, it was time for break.

At break, I met up with some of my friends and we socialised for a while. After about ten minutes, Billy and Eddie came over to us.

"Hi, Nicolaclair," Billy said. "Who are your friends?"

I introduced my friends to them and was pleased to find that everyone seemed to get on really well.

After break, I had Biology and a study period. Both classes passed quickly and before I knew it, lunch had been and gone, too.

My afternoon classes were Spanish and Home Economics. They were my two favourite classes and when my Home Economics teacher told us that we would be making cakes, I felt even happier.

"Unfortunately," Mrs Thomas said. "We won't have time to make the cake today so we'll have to start tomorrow."

I felt a little let down by that but I brightened when she started giving us a demonstration of the recipe.

When she was done with the demonstration, she let all of us try a piece of the cake. On my way to get a piece, I bumped into John Marcial.

"Oh, sorry John." I said as I passed him.

"It's fine," John said quietly.

I took my piece of cake and turned to him.

"Did you have a good summer, John?" I asked smiling.

"Yeah, it was fine," He said. "How was yours?"

"Yeah, all right." I told him with a smile. He smiled back and wandered away to talk to one of his friends. I shrugged, that was just how John was, sometimes. He was a really nice guy but he was also pretty quiet and shy at times.

My thoughts were cut off by the bell. Oh crap! I was going to be late out now. I grabbed my stuff and ran out of the school doors, thinking that this year would be a pretty good one.

Author's Note: Sorry again for the shorter chapter. Also, I hope it wasn't too boring. Please let me know in a review! hunterofartemis126