Chapter 3: Back into the Swing

"That Guardian Hathaway is something else, huh?" The lustful connotation practically dripped off his tongue. I actually wouldn't have been surprised if he'd started drooling with the way he was staring after her.

"She's a teacher, Ivan." Ivan had kind of a reputation of being a ladies man. Not like a get what he wants and trashes them kind of ladies man, but it was no mystery that he could most likely have any girl he had his sights on. But, even he had to know that Guardian Hathaway was strictly off limits. Not only was she a symbol of great authority and status, she was...actually I didn't know how old she was. But, definitely out of our legal age range.

"Oh, come on. You can't tell me she's not hot. If she was the same age as us, you wouldn't have a go at that? If you could." There was one thing I had to agree with Ivan on. She was beautiful. She had this golden tan skin that practically glowed in the sunlight, and just looking I could tell how supple it probably was. Her body...I had to stop myself from allowing all the lewd thoughts that threatened to cloud my mind and his from surfacing every time I looked at her. Naturally Dhampir women were more figured than Moroi, but Rose was in a category all her own. Had she been human, I could definitely see her being a model.

Not that that's all she'd be good for. There wasn't much I'd bet she couldn't do.

And, she had these big brown eyes that I bet got her anything she wanted when she was little, and probably still to this day. They were so innocent looking, but she held so much depth, passion, and ferocity behind them. They were the kind of eyes that pierced straight through you. The kind of eyes you didn't mind getting lost in. But, what caught my attention most of all was her hair. When I first met her it was up in a bun, as per usual among Guardian females with long hair to prevent being used as a weakness, but now back at the Academy she let it fall loose down her back. And, what a marvel it was. It was dark brown and fell in loose, cascading waves that seemed to flow with the wind as she walked. It shone whenever light touched it and held just flickers of orange and gold reflecting from the sun. I had to add getting a feel of it one day to my bucket list. Even just for an instant. I would've bet my life that it was smoother than silk. It was hard to tell looking at her what her birth origins were, but everything about her screamed desert beauty.

Yes, she was incredibly beautiful. But, I wasn't going to entertain the thought of being with her in any way other than teacher and student. Even if it killed me.

"Uh, don't you have some girl waiting for you? The one who was obsessed with you before we left? And then, you dumped her." He cringed.

"Ugh, you mean Mia? Please don't remind me. Why did you let me date her?" I scoffed, specifically remembering otherwise.

"Hey, D, guess what?" Ivan burst in my room with the biggest shit grin on his face. Same grin he only got in one specific situation.

"You got a new girlfriend." I stayed dryly.

"I got a new—hey, how'd you know?" I sighed, I had a pretty big exam coming up next period and didn't have a lot of time to spare. Of course I'd studied, but I was more than willing to take all the extra time I could crunch.

"Who's the lucky girl now, Ivan?" I tried to keep as much annoyance from seeping into my voice as I could. I failed. But, it didn't seem to faze him in the slightest. He walked over and plopped on my bed, chin in hands like a lovestruck school girl.

"Mia Rinaldi." I suppressed a gag. Normally, I stayed out of Ivan's love life, but this was probably the dumbest decision he'd ever made when it came to choosing women.

"Ivan, for lack of a better word, she's a bitch," My mother raised me to respect women at all times and I'd stuck by that all my life, but there truly was no way to sugarcoat it. And, I hardly ever cursed so it was no surprise Ivan was stunned silent, "You know she only dates for sport. She doesn't want boyfriends, she wants trophies." Too content in his newfound happiness, he waved me off.

"Aw don't be like that. I know what everyone says, but who knows. Maybe I just might be the one to melt that cold heart of hers."

"And when you break up with her a week from now, it'll be your funeral."

"I'm surprised she hasn't come pounding on you yet. I'm sure she's just watching somewhere, waiting to strike." I teased punching him light in he chest. His eyes actually widened in fear as they started frantically darting in every direction. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't joke like that." He grumbled crossing his arms. I threw mine over his shoulders.

"Don't worry, I'm your guardian remember?" His face grew solemn for a moment.

"Not if you can't catch up with everyone else...pass the exam..." He didn't continue, but I knew we were both thinking of the same final consequence that would devastate both of us. I'd known Ivan for...I didn't even know how many years. We were friends back home, in Russia, and after my incident, he offered to come with me to America. To St. Vladimir's. He left his family. His home. For me. Then...they died. Home invasion. We didn't even get to go return for the funeral. All we were told was that their last wish was for me to guard Ivan. And I've made that my top priority ever since. All guardians are meant to protect Moroi, but Ivan wasn't just my charge. He was my brother. I didn't know what I'd do if he ended up someone else as his guardian. What if they didn't protect him? I'd never forgive myself. No one could protect him like I could. Losing him, wasn't an option.

"You don't need to worry about that. And, I don't either. I will do everything I have to to make sure that nothing comes between us. I've sworn my life on it. Besides, you'd be lost without me. Who'd help you decide what hair gel makes you look the most, "grab-able"?" Now, it was his turn to laugh.

"Okay, that was one time. And for promising to not speak of it, you speak of it a lot." We were making our way to the dorms. We'd decided soon after arriving that first thing on our agenda, if I wasn't thrown out that is, would be sleeping. We'd spent two years in dirty motels, thousand year old bnb's, a car, just about any cheap place that was sleep-able. We well deserved a good sleep.

"Look who came crawling back. What happened cousin? Dear old, departed Auntie, and Uncle's pocket change run out? Or, did Belikov over here get his ass handed to him outside the wards?" A low growl rumbled in my chest. Jesse Zeklos. Ivan's cousin, partially. Ivan's dad actually had an affair. He met Ivan's mom on a business trip in Russia, and fell in love with her. He abandoned his court lifestyle, they stayed in Russia, and had Ivan. As a result, he was often seen as the mistake in their family. The outcast. He was still seen as a royal by the court, but that didn't seem to matter to them. Ever since we'd gotten to the Academy, Jesse had made it his life's purpose to make Ivan's a living hell. Lucky for him, we weren't allowed to harm Moroi. Otherwise, I would've beat him within an inch of his life years ago.

"Let's just go, Dimitri." It was funny how, in these situations, me and Ivan traded places. Usually I was the reserved, calm one, and he was the one with the slight temper. I could control my emotions in any other instance, but it was always Jesse that managed to tear down every ounce of control and resistance I had. I wanted nothing more than to punch that sly grin off his face. But, I let Ivan lead me in the opposite direction.

"Hey, Belikov, your sister's almost of age now, right? She started blood whore practice yet?" My vision reddened. A second later, and I would've had him by the neck. Lucky for him, I was restrained.

"Dimitri Belikov, you are to report to the guidance counselors office for new scheduling immediately, and Ivan Zeklos after you report to the nearest feeding center the same goes for you." Jesse smirked at his victory and sauntered off. I clenched my jaw, turning to meet the eyes of his savior. I only faintly recognized his face, but it was definitely familiar. It was the mess of copper hair that stood atop his head that sparked my memory. You didn't forget hair like that. His name however, I couldn't recall. But, not like I was in the mood for small talk anyway.

"Thank you so much, Guardian..." Ivan, as always, playing the good boy.

"Ashford. Now, get going. And for your own good, try to stay out of trouble, Belikov." I could tell he was sincere in his advice. I didn't expect to get much sympathy or respect from many of the guardians here at the Academy, so his concern was more than appreciated. It was nice to know that everyone wasn't counting me out. I gave him a small smile and nod in response. He escorted Ivan personally, assuming to make sure we didn't end up ditching our responsibilities, and I made my way over to the guidance counselor's.

I couldn't help but notice how much different everything had become. Not in the literal sense of course, but having spent two years in the normal world I was seeing everything in a new light. Sure we'd been taught a lot about the human world, but being out there, being...free was a whole new experience. This was how we'd lived all our lives. Behind walls, following rules, living how we were meant and told to. But, out there...there were no rules. You could be who and whatever you wanted. Sure some things still took a certain amount of hard work and dedication like being a guardian does, but you choose what and who you want to give it to. Although there are some people there that have the same chosen lives we do. I remembered this one guy I met in a bar; how Ivan managed to convince me into going, I still have no idea.

"I'm just taking some time for myself, Sir. Is that fine? Some time so I can hear myself fucking think? Or is that too much of a task for me? Oh, wait. Running the company you've spent years building at 18 isn't though, right? So, I think I'm good here. Fuck off, Dad." I couldn't help but overhear, especially since the guy was sitting right next to me at the bar. He spat the last word with such venom and animosity I cringed. The bartender gave him a pointed look, clearly he'd gotten in the same way we did but he shrugged it off.

"He needs a drink." He mumbled turning his attention back to the dirty glasses. I had to agree with the him on that one. It was hard to believe he was 18 looking at him. He had light olive skin, clear blue eyes, and dirty blonde hair that appeared to have once been perfectly gelled in place but he consistently ran frustrated hands through it. I couldn't tell how tall he was from sitting down but he had to be around Ivan's height at least. I could only see his profile but it was clear how worn he was. Even from the side the deep, lack of sleep induced craters under his eyes were prominent. His brow had remained furrowed as long as he'd been there, which was a while, and he threw back every glass of brown liquid handed to him like his life depended on it. With how much he'd drank I was impressed he hadn't passed out hours ago. Having had Russian Vodka a couple times throughout my life, this was merely child's play for me.

For some reason I didn't just feel sorry for him. I felt empathy. I understood him. It always seemed like humans had it so much easier than us. Little responsibility, the choice to do whatever they wanted with their lives, no predetermined purpose... But here he was facing the same life struggle I was; being told how to live his life.

"Dimitri." Some invisible force had scooted me closer to him and I was now holding out my hand in a gesture of cordiality. Why, I had no idea. He tore his eyes off the empty glass in front of him and eyed me carefully. Now that I was closer I noticed just how bad he really looked. His eyes were strained and bloodshot and his face was completely drained of all color. I started to worry wether or not he needed some medical attention. He, having caught me staring, shrugged.

"Terrible, I know. Everyone at the office keeps insisting I should see someone, but hey," Another shrug, "The hell with it. Only live once right? Connor." He took my hand in a grip I was surprised he had the strength to muster.

"So, what brought you over here to my pity party? Besides, well...pity of course." I paused. What had pushed me to speak to him? Normally, I stayed as far as I could from anyone and everyone for Ivan's sake, but now...I felt comfortable with him.

"I don't know...I overheard your conversation and I guess I felt that I understood you. What you're going through, I mean." He raised a brow and waved a hand to the bartender.

"Aye, Jimmy, another round for me and my new friend Dimitri here. We're gonna be a minute."

"Alright, but this is the last one. It's time you headed home. All of you." He pointed a finger toward Ivan on the other side of the bar who was drunkenly flirting with these two girls in the middle of a pool game, and failing miserably. His tone left no room for argument and I wasn't going to give him one. Mostly cause I was in no shape to try and stop him if he forcibly kicked us out.

"Aye aye, Sir. Right after we have our little heart-to-heart here." He scooted onto the stool next to me and was now full on facing me. Every guardian fiber in my body was screaming at me to put my guard up, grab Ivan, and leave. But, the booze quickly making its way into my blood stream was winning over my instincts.

"So, this is the part where I tell you my life story—you tell me yours and then we both leave with some relieving—sense that we're not the most fucked people in the—universe even though we still are. Or—least that's how the shit goes in the movies, right?" The smallest smile rugged at my lips. Partially from suppressing a laugh at how he'd hiccup every so often and sway out of his seat.

"I wouldn't know." He laughed. A real, hearty laugh that shook the whole body. A laugh I couldn't remember my last time having.

"Y'know, Dimitri, you seem like a pretty good guy. Good looking-probably got a nice girlfriend worrying about you, you seem smart, well rounded, love your mom and all that good shit...so what's a perfectly good guy like you doing in a place for life's rejects?" Jim put a hand over his heart in fake hurt.

The answer was simple, I was out here to protect Ivan. Why we were in this bar, however, was still a mystery. But, something about his words...they made me think. Why was I really here? Cause I was born to be? Cause if not here, I'd just be training to guard someone else? Cause my life had no other purpose?

"Let's just say...I have to be here. My whole life has more or less led to this moment...and if not this exact moment in this exact place, I'd just be somewhere else stuck in the same position. Call it what you want fate, destiny, whatever. But, I don't have anywhere else to be I guess. Sometimes I wonder though...why? Why wasn't I meant to live my own life..." He just looked at me. I couldn't tell what he was looking for, but he was deep in thought. I tensed. I knew barely anything about this guy, and here I was calmly telling him my deepest life doubts. Things I'd never even spoken to Ivan about.

He released a deep sigh, "Wow, man, that's some hard shit. But, I get it. Totally. My dad runs this big corporate company and all my life he's been telling me, 'Son, this will be yours one day'. But, he's never asked what I wanna do with my life. What makes me happy, y'know? Sometimes I think that's all I was born to be; the puppet he could control from behind the scenes to remain in control of his company long after retirement. A talking head. But, you know what? It's bullshit. All of it. Who the fuck is he to tell me what my life is meant for? Only person I know supposed to be able to do that is the big man upstairs. And, he's been awfully quiet my whole life, so I figure that means it's up to me. I'm tired of letting him control me and my life. It's funny, but I wanna be a chef. I love to cook. Ever since I was little. Y'know what he called that? Women's work. But, take it from me, no one is in charge of your life but you. So what if you break a few rules? So what if you piss a few people off? Most important thing in your life, is you. So, I say fuck em. All of em. Head for the hills, before it's too late. Everyone deserves to be happy. Except maybe that guy, Hitler. He was a dick. But, you only get one life. Kind of a, 'Fuck you' to God to piss it away." Every word he spoke, I hung on to it like gospel truth. In the back of my mind every instinct, every belief, every moral instilled in me by the Academy and our society now seemed so...trivial. What if this guy was right? Could I really take control of my own life? Were we truly meant to throw our lives away protecting the Moroi?

Lot of our time out there I often wondered what it'd be like...to be human...to have a life of my own... Don't get me wrong I'd never dream of leaving Ivan. It was a silly fantasy. It did amaze me, though. Our worlds were so different, yet still kind of the same.

It didn't take me long to reach the guidance counselors office. Luckily, I didn't run into a certain someone that was in desperate need of a broken nose. My visit went by quickly. The Moroi that assisted me was pretty old, I only vaguely remembered him from before we left, it was a surprise that he was still around. I felt sorry for him having to spend his time cramped behind a desk all day. He didn't ask anything about our escape or comment on my return, he only asked about the classes I took in Chicago and Portland and threw together another similar schedule based on the Academy's curriculum.

1st Period: Advanced Guardian Combat Techniques

2nd Period: Bodyguard Theory and Personal Protection 3

3rd Period: Weight Training and Conditioning

4th Period: Senior Language Arts (Novices)

— Lunch-

5th Period: Animal Behavior and Physiology

6th Period: Pre-calculus

7th Period: Moroi Culture 4

8th Period: Slavic Art

It was strange once again having my entire day taken up by school. We only took part-time classes during our time away. I cringed, my earlier doubts had crept over me again. Would I really be able to catch up? Was I still the best thing for Ivan?

You have to be. You're all he's got.

Sighing, I held my head high and reluctantly made my way to my first class.

Well here it is, finally. This is more so how often I'll be updating with school and work going on. Sorry if there's a few errors throughout, not even going to lie to you guys when I finish I just want to get it out I'm so lazy. Sue me. But, hope you guys enjoy and let me know what you think of the little flashback to some of their time outside the Academy. Should I keep that going? Also, I'm having trouble picking a specific day and time to update so if you guys have any suggestions on when you post or when you typically have more time to read then please let me know! It'd be a great help.

And, to the guest who asked about my Boondocks fanfic Forbidden Attraction I swear I haven't forgotten about it. It's still in the back of my mind, I'm just not sure where I want to go with it and I was planning on a sequel so I have to think about that too. But, it's good to see people haven't forgotten about it like me and thank you for coming on to another story (if you like it).

Hope you guys enjoyed, hope you feel moved to review I love reading them ^v^. See you next chapter!