"That was...easy." I said, as Guardian Belikov escorted me to the counselor's office. They had already sent Lissa to class and Rose had just left the office.
"I have to admit I wasn't expecting her to accept you in that quick."
"Well I assumed she was impressed with a dhampir doing TK-"
"Excuse me? TK?"
"Um...telekinesis." I said.
Guardian Belikov wanted to ask me more questions but we had already got to the door of the counselor's office. He told me he had to go teach one of his classes but will see me later.
Great.
The counselor was really old Moroi. Like ancient and is very close to death. Or Death is just sitting behind him waiting. He asked me about what classes I took in Portland and that Kirova informed him of my 'special' situation. After the visit, he printed out my schedule and took it as I left.
I glance at it:
1st Period-Advanced Guardian Combat Techniques
2nd Period-Bodyguard Theory and Personal Protection
3rd Period-Weight Training and Conditioning
4th Period-Basics of Elemental Control
-Lunch-
5th Period-Animal Physiology & Behavior
6th Period-Advanced Calculus
7th Period-Moroi Culture 1
8th Period-Slavic Art
By the looks of this schedule, I'll be here for an extra two years.
If I'm lucky.
I walk myself to the gym that was my first period class. Until Guardian Belikov and a female guardian busted me. Luckily Rose was also there so it was less awkward for me. When we arrived, my new peers were in the middle of setting up and then, like earlier, all eyes were on us.
Oh great. Haven't spent the whole day here and already I feel like they see me as a freak. Now I have to prove myself that I'm not a pushover or weakling they can easily take advantage of.
"Hey Mason, wipe the drool off your face. If you're going to think about me naked, do it on your own time." I heard Rose say.
A few snorts and snickers broke the awkward silence and I noticed one dhampir who stood out from the group. Unlike most dhampir, his skin was more fair skin than tan, freckles on his face and bright red hair that was sticking up everywhere.
"This is my time Hathaway. I'm leading today's session." He turns to look at me. "Whose the newbie?"
"Newbie?"
"Careful Mase, she's may look tame as Lissa but she has my temper." Rose warns. "This Lena Eades. Lena this is my best friend/partner in crime Mason Ashford."
"Well Lena," Mason said, giving us a lopsided smile. "...welcome to Vampire Academy. As I was saying before I'm gonna do today's session."
"Oh yeah?" Rose retorted, "Huh. Well, I guess this is a good time to think about me naked, then."
"It's always a good time to think about you naked," added another person.
"Oh Lena that's another good friend of mines, Eddie Castile." Rose said. "Eddie, this is Lena."
The boy, Eddie, examines me very closes and it left me wondering if he was imaging me naked. His expression indicates he was rather impressed with my height.
"Are you sure you're not a Moroi?" Eddie jokes. "You look like you could pass more for a supermodel."
"Come closer," I said. "And I'll tell you."
The class nearly engulfed us, and I felt like I was one of them who been there for years. People wanted to know where we been; apparently me, Rose, and Lissa had instantly became legends. The happy reunion last until the adult guardian scolded Mason for neglecting his duties. He barked out orders to us, explaining which exercise to start with. Strangely I realized that I actual know these moves.
But the thing is, I don't recall learning them.
An hour later, Rose was paired up with Mason who had her on her ass fifty times. I had Eddie and once this one time he had me on the mat after beating him over sixty.
"So tell me," Eddie said, helping me up from the mat. "you had little to no training yet you knew all these fighting moves and done them well. How?"
I shrug. "I dunno. Beginners luck?"
"I don't think so. I think you're not telling the whole story. But that's not my business." Eddie said. "At this rate maybe you'll be able to take spring trials."
"I'm sure I'll be ready," I said. "they're making me take extra training with Guardian Belikov."
"Lucky," Eddie said.
"Why is that?"
"He's like the best guardian. I know he comes off all anti-social and shit but when he fights..."
"I seen how he fights." I said. "He had Rose on her ass. Defeat."
Eddie's eyes brighten and he flash me a grin. "Oh really? Rose? Rose 'Badass' Hathaway admitted defeat?"
"Well knowing her, she didn't admit-"
"Well well well," Rose interrupts, walking towards us with a towel to wipe the sweat off her face. "It's nice to know you guys have nothing better to do to talk shit about me behind my back."
Me and Eddie look at Rose then to each other and grinned.
"C'mon Rose. That's not fair." said Eddie. "The whole school is talking shit behind your back."
Rose and I went to our second period. From what Rose told me, this class was all about being a bodyguard and was required. The instructor was Stan Alto. He was a couple years older than Guardian Belikov but a couple inches shorter. He looks pissed off when he came to class and look at Rose with a mock surprise.
"What's this? No one told me we had a guest speaker here today." His sarcasm annoyed the hell outta me. Already I hate the bastard. "Rose Hathaway. What a privilege! How very generous of you to take time out of your busy schedule and your knowledge with us."
I felt myself getting very angry of how much of a dick he was being to Rose. He gestured her to stand up.
"Well come on, come on. Don't sit there! Come up to the front so you can help me lecture the class."
She sank into her seat. "You don't really mean-"
His taunting smile dried up. "I mean exactly what I say, Hathaway. Go to the front of the class."
The class went completely silent. Unlike everyone else, Stan Atlo didn't scare nor intimate me.
"So, Hathaway," Stan cheerfully, strolling back up to the front with me. "Enlighten us with your protective techniques."
"My... techniques?"
"Of course. Because presumably you must have had some sort of plan the rest of us couldn't understand when you took an underage Moroi royal out of the academy and exposed her to constant Strigoi threats."
"We never ran into any Strigoi," Rose replied stiffly.
I really didn't want to watch or listen to this asshole embarrass her any longer. Things then went from bad to worse when he started to yell at her for saying that it's safer in the outside world. I could tell she was trying her best not to cry.
After he was done, he ask me to stand up and introduce myself.
"My name is Lena Eades."
"So Lena do you think it's safer out there?" he questions me. Okay now I was annoyed.
"You know," I began. "...I understand what Rose Hathaway did was completely reckless and stupid but she managed to keep her Moroi safe for TWO years and you didn't have to be unprofessional and used unnecessary sarcasm to prove your point."
His expression hard and open his mouth to speak but didn't get the chance when his coffee mug suddenly exploded into pieces.
I left before anyone could stop me.