Author note: There is so much snow here it isn't funny! But it is fun to play in. But goodness with the wind chill it feels like it's negative thirty out there at night. I hope everyone's staying warm as toast!

Germandelights: That was a very docile move for you! I'm surprised. Have you finally sated your pervert beast?

Mejajajak: I think I mentioned in the first chapter that the idea for this came from the kuro series. But no, Dimitri is actually the game Dimitri, the vampire from the special episode. Again I think I mentioned that too, that I was taking chino's vampire in looks and twisting his history to suit this story. Any similarity to Sebastian is accidental but I'll work on that in future.

uuu: The reviews came so close so I'm not sure if you aren't Meja but I'll answer seperately. If that's all it takes to make an idiot in your book then I feel very sorry for you. I appreciate it though. You gave me a laugh like most flames do. If it bores you I have a simple solution to you and everyone of the same opinion. Stop reading and find something more your taste.

Joanieaudrey: Alright I hope you enjoy this! Thanks for participating.

Maiannaise: I know Lysander... the more I write the MCL boys the more I want them all! I'm standing firm though with Lysander and Castiel as my tied first places!

The results!

Choice A- 1

Choice B- 2

Disclaimer: I own my Nettie and other things.

Chapter start

Nettie nodded her head slightly and Dimitri pushed her into the room that had shockingly enough only a master bath and shower. He thankfully left her to bathe alone and was gone when she got out so she dressed alone as well.

It was the first time she could explore the house. She wandered down the halls and into all the rooms. There was a study right across from her room that had all leather furniture in it and a… cow head?... mounted on the wall behind the huge sturdy desk.

Definitely masculine. In fact the whole house had a masculine feel to it but she found she didn't mind being swallowed by it.

When she wandered into the kitchen there was a note taped onto the fridge that had been made to blend in with the cabinets. The words brought a smile to her face and she opened the microwave to find her 'dinner'.

Dimitri must have been in her head. And he really was trying to win her over. Why else would he follow such a crazy and unhealthy whim?

Either way Nettie was more than satisfied with her meal of a double hot fudge sundae with crumbled up brownies and chocolate chips inside.

She went to sleep fully sated in every way.

Dimitri wasn't there the next day as well. But he had set out some clothes for her to wear and again made her breakfast to eat or throw away. It was blueberry waffles from scratch that morning and now she was wondering how the hell he knew how to cook.

It didn't bother her too much as she cleaned the dishes. From this new house it took her a bit over an hour to get to school on the bus so she had about ten minutes left to get into the school and scramble to her next class.

"Nettie!"

Nettie turned to see Rosalya to her right when she was determined to get to her locker without incident. She smiled when she saw what was in her best friends hands.

"Aw, I love you!"

"I know, everyone does." Rosalya handed her the books and they started walking to her class. "So we have a new teacher!"

"What?"

"Yupp. He's replacing Mr. Andrews. Apparently he quit real sudden."

Nettie paused naturally in front of her classroom. It had become a thing since Deborah showed up. There was nothing in her that wanted her to go in and face the direct stares and hate filled glances from classmates, former friends. At least out in the hall they were passing.

"And you heard this from…?"

Rosalya giggled and swatted her arm playfully. "Silly! You know I heard it from Leigh, who heard it from the woman who gives him flirty eyes, who heard it from the jewelry shop owner, who heard it from… you know the rest."

"Sweet Amoris grape vine express." Nettie was beyond dry. It was faster than a bullet. She should know, since it ruined her life within ten seconds of that damned bucket falling on precious Deborah.

The bell rang and the two flit into the classroom. Unfortunately the teacher wasn't there yet so Nettie endured the sudden silence and then the explosion of whispering with some nervous attitude mixed with indifference.

She just didn't like these people anymore so it bothered her they could still hurt her by the rumors.

Rosalya dragged her to the back of the classroom where Lysander had saved them two seats at a spot where four desks had been pushed together. Minus the fact that Castiel was on his other side it was ideal. Rosalya giggled a bit to herself and plopped herself in a chair, leaving only the one across from Lysander available.

Nettie sat in it after glaring at the back of Rosalya's head for a second. It was fine being across Lysander. It was another being diagonal from Castiel. Her heart didn't bleed thankfully.

Nettie leaned forward a bit and rapped her knuckles on Lysander's desk. She waited until the boy looked up and swallowed a bit at the peaceful gaze. Lysander was just so calm it amazed her.

"Thanks for being worried yesterday. I wasn't thinking or I would have let you guys know before I left." Not exactly a lie, really, not one bit.

"It's alright." Lysander smiled softly at her and her heart stuttered. "I'm just glad you seem more cheerful today."

"I really am!" Nettie found the smile came easily for him now. If Lysander wanted to see her really happy than she would be. With the help of Dimitri she could achieve that again.

She was taking a sip from her water bottle when it happened. In breezed the new teacher, apologizing for being late and greeting them. All the female hearts stopped while the males remained dull. Nettie however choked on her water and was sent into a hacking cough.

Rosalya beat her on the back until she stopped hacking her lungs out. She squealed a little when Nettie plopped her head on her desk and tried to breath.

"You okay there little girl?" That voice was Castiel's and it made tears hit her eyes. Where he got the right to be concerned about her was beyond her and she wished he wouldn't speak in her presence.

Lysander leaned forward and his hand brushed through some strands of her hair. If her hair had feelings and the ability to speak… okay, even she wasn't that sappy and romantic especially when death was in the house, figuratively speaking.

"Are you alright young lady?"

"Just peachy," Nettie managed through clenched teeth.

"Good then. Now then class my name is Redolphus Alistair and I'll be your new history teacher for as long as necessary."

Translation, I'll be teaching you until I convince a soul to not be a demon steak. This was just… beyond fowl.

Dimitri!

Dimitri cocked his head as the images Nettie was sending him came pouring in. From what he could gather Redolphus was at her school. As a teacher…?

Dimitri snorted suddenly. Then he chuckled. And then he snorted as he chuckled. And then he stopped and glanced to the side where a young woman with a shopping cart full of goodies was looking rather startled by his sudden outburst. And why not?

Due to Nettie's passing thought of him dressing more modern he was in a pair of black jeans and boots paired with a plain black t shirt and black leather jacket. And he was holding an apple in each hand to decide which one was better.

If that image wasn't eye catching enough he had just lost himself and laughed at the misery the reaper must have been feeling. So now he probably looked very much insane. Well he might have been, one never knew after a few centuries of boredom and gorging on criminals and other insane beings.

Dimitri sent a reassurance to Nettie and smiled nicely at the woman. Nettie calmed down. The woman turned her cart and bolted. You couldn't win them all.

He doubted very highly Redolphus would make a move on Nettie so soon after his last defeat beyond words and some twisted anger. If he was wrong then he could always be at Nettie's side in a second.

This was a startling turn in any case. Of all the actions Redolphus could have taken he hadn't expected him to move into human society again, to immerse in it like he had when he approached the human Dimitri. He would have believed the reaper knew better after their association went south.

He was just always being shocked by Redolphus. It kept his eternity from being boring at the least. A smile lit his features. If he had known what fun claiming Nettie would be he would have done it ages ago.

Nettie was shocked that Redolphus was actually a capable teacher. Not that she paid any attention to his lecture. Her notebook laid open uselessly before her, the pen in her hand not touching the paper once. Her eyes were looking for any sign he was a reaper.

He had formed himself into a human nicely. The misty grey cloak was gone; the featureless face had been replaced by what could only be called handsome chiseled features. It was only by the still too pigmantless eyes and flaming red hair that Nettie recognized him.

"That concludes today's lesson. For homework I'd like you all to read the next chapter and write me a five thousand word essay."

Groans were heard all around the room. Even the girls had their enthusiasm for this new teacher dashed. It was okay if he was hot and lenient it was another if the teacher was hot but a real hard ass on homework.

"And it's only first bell!" Rosalya was more annoyed than any of them.

"I suppose he probably wants to make sure we were being taught properly before," Lysander murmured.

"Sure. Or he wants to kill us." Nettie said it sarcastically even though for her it was true.

"Hey!"

Nettie glanced behind her and there was Castiel. She supposed it was time to pay the piper. She sent a whispered request to Dimitri and felt his energy seep inside her, giving her strength. This time it didn't enrage her. She was thankful for that since she wanted to keep a calm head.

Nettie smiled and waved Lysander and Rosalya on to next bell. Then she waited for Castiel to get up to her.

"So you're finally willing to listen to me," he demanded as soon as he was close and Nettie snorted.

"Not really but you're like a puppy. I don't think you'll leave me alone until I do."

Castiel tsked and folded his arms, looking over the girl he might have gotten with if Deborah hadn't shown up and Nettie had showed off her real colors. He just didn't get it. Nettie had always seemed like a bit of a pushover so he didn't get where the sudden attitude came from, so different from the sass she normally carried.

This was a previously well liked girl who nobody except for Amber could say anything bad about even when she got herself into horrible trouble by spying in the locker rooms, getting lost on trails, and other regular teen stuff. Now the halls were littered with her name and sympathy to Deborah. By all rights and purposes the two of them should have been best friends!

"The girl I love has come back to me." Castiel swallowed when he saw the wince Nettie did at the words. "And she wants me to go with her. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I can't think though with you running around like this!"

"If you're so in love with her than stop paying me any attention," Nettie retorted irritably.

Castiel narrowed his eyes at her. "It isn't that easy and you know it!"

"It should be!"

"Well it isn't!"

They glared at each other for a minute; both ignored the bell that signaled next class had started. Nettie blinked and looked away first, heaving a sigh.

"You're going to get hurt again."

Castiel relaxed his stance but the frown remained. "I can take care of myself. All Deborah did was put her career in front of me. I'd have done the same thing."

"No you wouldn't have. You're a jerk, you're a bastard most days. But you never would have let her be hurt as bad as she hurt you then. And what's worse is you can't even see it because all you see is the mask she has. That perfect mask…" that she hadn't been able to shatter.

Nettie shook her head and Castiel saw the sudden resolve on her face. "I can't save you Castiel. And I don't want to anymore. I really wish this could have been different, that all of this… wasn't happening. But I made my choice and so did you. So now we get to live with that. I hope she's worth the heartache."

Nettie didn't turn back. Instead she headed up the stairs to her next class. Instead of going she ended up in the library. She sat down in a plush chair and closed her eyes.

Redolphus shook her awake a little over an hour later. To her credit only her heart showed how startled she was.

"So now you're a teacher?"

"For now, yes, it would seem so."

Nettie giggled. Knowing what she knew about him it seemed just so wrong he would be teaching. Redolphus didn't begrudge her laughter at his expense.

Then Nettie fixed him with her eyes. "I should summon Dimitri."

"It would be a waste. I am not going to hurt you," Redolphus said dully.

"Says the guy whose hurt me for centuries and froze me yesterday."

"I reacted poorly yesterday. It isn't everyday a soul reacts as you did." Redolphus sighed a bit and sat in a chair across from her.

"Does it hurt keeping that form so long?" Nettie was purely curious.

"It is tiresome. I haven't held a human form for… a very long while."

"Since Dimitri became a demon." It was logical.

Redolphus dipped his head down slightly. So she was right. "And you loved him very much didn't you?"

Now he gave her a look and she swallowed, wondering if she had made him angry again. But she didn't back down.

"I suppose I did," Redolphus conceded after a moment. "Which is very odd. It's rare for a reaper to feel."

So she had been correct in that too. She wondered how Dimitri had felt about the reaper a long time ago. And if there was anything else left of that beyond the feeling of a rivalry and a dislike of species.

She had just opened her mouth to ask more questions when Redolphus shushed her.

"You know this isn't your first life where you encountered the soul of Deborah. It's rather interesting. How much a new life can change how souls feel for each other…"

"What do you mean," Nettie asked.

Redolphus chuckled. "I can't convince you as you are to break this contract with Dimitri. So I wish to give you some knowledge. Perhaps if you understand your role in past lives you'll realize we reapers weren't setting out to be cruel with you or other souls."

"And if I'm not interested in past lives?" Nettie crossed her arms.

Redolphus shrugged. "You can honestly say you aren't curious? To know who you were before. To have that knowledge in your own reach. You were worth knowing in most of your lives, even the ones where you killed for personal reasons."

She had been a killer? Well wasn't that perfect. Curiosity did stir but she would never let him know that.

"Aren't you breaking some reaper rule?" She made herself be sarcastic.

"Yes I am. But in some instances this can be overlooked in pursuit of a rogue soul."

Nettie bit into her lower lip. She was curious. But she didn't know which she was more curious about.

"Tell you what. I know you are curious about my and Dimitri's shared past still. If you promise to at least think about what I say, truly think, then I shall answer one question you ask with complete openness and honesty on my part." Redolphus leaned forward to show his sincerity.

So Nettie could ask anything. How shocked would he be if she asked for something frivolous like the meaning of life? Surely a being that ushered death into neat compartments would be able to tell her.

She was most curious about…

End chapter

Author note: Well there we go. I hope you guys liked! I have a clear path for both these options so whichever wins the next chapter will be out quicker! So get your vote in quick this time if you want to participate. See you next time.

THE CHOICES!

Choice A- Nettie chooses to know more about the former relationship of Dimitri and Redolphus

Choice B- Nettie wants to know more about her past life involving Deborah