JOE POV

(DINNER)

When I walked into the Grand Hall, in the long line of teachers. I looked around the hall; usually I just look straight ahead as I have no real interest in what people are wearing to dinner. However today was different, Lucy had been awake now for three days, I haven't spoken to her at all, except when I am in teaching mode. Then today I saw her walking towards her next lesson, COW I think, when the idiot (also known as Jason) stopped and talked to her, and I have to admit, from start to end she looked pissed, really pissed. So I wanted to make sure she was okay.

I only spotted her when I got to the teacher's table, everyone was watching us so I couldn't try and get her attention.

'Aliquam commodo sedere. (Thank you, please be seated,) Rachel called out in Latin, it was the rule that all student would stand when the teachers came in, and if they didn't... well they would have to face whichever teacher spotted them first. It was usually me, because I 'notice things', and I have to say, watching them get gradually more scared was amusing. Harsh? Yes, I know but they should learn to follow the rule. At Blackthorne one foot out of line, literally, and it would be ten laps around the one mile running track.

Everyone took their seat, as did we and began to eat. Halfway through the meal, Rachel got up to announce something I had been dreading for a long, long time (besides Blackthorne boys coming here, of course).

'Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to announce that we will be holding a ball this Friday in the Grand Hall, we will be testing you on all your subjects so be ready. You will be fitted for ball gowns and dress suits (AN sorry, is that what they're called?) in your C&A classes, and everyone must be accompanied by someone else,' she didn't say it in Latin because announcements never where in the chosen language. At this last sentence I saw Lucy's face crumple slightly, but only I would notice because 1. I know her face well and 2. She is an excellent spy. She knew that a certain idiot won't stop pestering her until she says yes, which would probably be in a thousand years.

As soon as Rachel sat down in her seat, there was a loud chatter, and I watched as Lucy practically sprinted towards one of her old roommates, Matt. I didn't get jealous, because I knew he was like a brother to her. She was no doubt, asking if he would go with her because she didn't want the idiot to force her into letting him take her. Matt immediately nodded and she looked relieved and I felt relieved, because I know she was safe.

LUCY POV

When I heard what Mrs. Morgan said about the ball I waited till she sat down then sprinted towards Matt.

'Matt! Please, please take me to the ball with you! I REALLY don't want that perv taking me!' I didn't bother to speak in the chosen language of Latin, because this was important. In fact no one from Blackthorne really bothers with the language. Matt obviously saw the scared look in my eyes, something I don't show a lot, because I don't like to show emotions, but I couldn't care about that at the moment. What I cared about was not going with Jason. Matt nodded quickly.

'Yeah, definitely,' I breathed a sigh of relief. He knew how I felt about being around Jason now, and looked out for me like he was my brother.

'Thanks, and sorry, I know you liked Michelle, and probably wanted to ask her...' I trailed off as Jason came walking towards our table, ever since the night, the boys refuse to talk to him, they even made him move out of their room , they were that 'disgusted by what he did' as Chris likes to say.

'Evening boys, Lucy,' Jason nodded at us, the boys just ignored him but I stood up.

'What do you want?' I asked tired of him talking to me already. Jason smirked.

'I came to ask you to go to the ball with me,'

'No,' I said plainly, his smirk fell instantly and I turned to Chris and Matt, who were trying not to laugh.

'I'll see you guys later yeah?' they both nodded so I walked back to my seat and sat down again. I looked at Michelle, still not bothering to speak in Latin.

'Michelle, I am so, so sorry that I just asked matt, it's just... that I don't want...' I tried to finish my sentence but Michelle cut me off.

'No, it's okay. I get it,' Michelle smiled at me but there was hint of sadness in her eyes.

'Hey, but remember, all matt has to do is accompany me then he's all yours,' I winked at her knowingly and she grinned and nodded. She was about to reply, when Joe came up from behind us.

'Paenitet perturbare tua farinam, dominarum et iudices, sed ego sum hic dicere quod erit a pop Quiz nocte ad novem, videns ut ultimum obtinuit ... disiecerun,'

('Sorry to disrupt your meal, ladies and gentlemen, but I am here to say that there will be a pop quiz tonight at nine, seeing as the last one got... disrupted in Latin) Joe looked at me,

'Experiri et operaretur sensibiliter, ut te agere sicut togatos,'

(Try and dress sensibly, as you will be acting like civilians,' in Latin)

At that he walked away, I looked back at my roommates only to see an evil look on Gracie's face. That can't be good.

'Let's go get ourselves an outfit' she whispered menacingly. Now, I have been put up against knifes, guns, bombs, kicks, punches, you name it, but NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING was a scary as the evil glint in Gracie's eye. Lord, help us all.

Sorry it's shorter than normal, but not sure what to happen in the story...