"So let's get this straight. You want me here because..." Max prompted, making herself comfortable on my bed.
"I need you to help me choose an outfit for tonight! I told you that this morning!" I started rummaging through my closet.
She suppressed a yawn. "Yeah, a party I wasn't invited to. Plus, it's still morning. Look! The sun is up! Moroi like you should be in bed."
I shook my head, "Not when Moroi like me don't know what to wear!"
"Mira chama, your closet is full of clothing! How can you say you have nothing to wear? My closet is fifteen times smaller than this."
"I'm not saying I have nothing to wear; I'm saying that I don't know what I should wear!" I moaned.
"You're so complicated!" She got of the bed and joined me in what I called the next Indiana Jones movie: Indiana Jones and the search for the party dress.
Her eyes scanned the closet. "Aha!" She reached for a short purple dress in less time than it would take someone to say: donut.
I stared at her, my mouth wide open. "How did you do that?"
"You said you needed a dress. I got a dress. Try it on." She handed it over.
I came into the bathroom and changed into the dress. It was a Barney-purple halter sundress with a bejeweled collar. The medium neckline didn't reveal too much, but was just perfect for me. The bottom trim was also had big silver rhinestones. I wasn't able to look at myself in the mirror well enough because max didn't give me the chance to.
"Hey are you done in there? ¡Salte! Come out!" Max called.
I opened the bathroom door. Max's already big grey eyes grew wider, if that was possible.
"Daaaaaaamn, girl you look hot!"
I blushed, a normal reaction to honest compliments. "Really?"
"Uh huh, look it matches your calcetines." She pointed at my socks. Raccoons made up the design. I blushed; What can I say? They were on sale and I love purple.
"Didn't you hear? Raccoons are so in this season. Every one has to own a pair of purple raccoon socks..."
Max laughed. " I'll tell you what, next time we pass by a sock store I will buy them."
"Good. I'm glad you're finally gaining a sense of style."
Max threw a pillow at my face. "Hey! I chose that dress."
"True." I plopped down next to her on my bed."So what do we do now?"
"I don't know, you dragged me up here from across campus! Oh! I have an idea!"
"Yeah?" I asked in hype.
"GOOD NIGHT!" She pulled my covers over her head.
I groaned, "You're no fun... Don't you want to go exploring?"
"Nayjstwntofnshslpn" she muffled into my pillow.
"What?"
She raised her head, "No, I just want to finish sleeping!"
"Come on! Don't you want to find out what's in the other rooms on this floor?"
"I'd rather find out what the sand man has in store for me in Dream land."
"And what if I set up the TV? Join me in a round of Wii boxing?" I coerced.
"Nah, I don't want to move."
"Wanna play Black-ops on the ps3?" Sooner or later she was bound to give in.
"I don't want to destroy your ego so quickly" she dismissed.
I sighed in defeat, "Wanna watch the Red Sox take on the Nationals?"
Her head snapped up. "You get ESPN on your TV?" Bingo.
I shrugged. "If I set it up right, it'll be HD-"
"Then what are we waiting for?" She leaped out of the bed.
We assembled the wall bracket between the two of us. Max scored a power drill from the maintenance closet on the second floor. After securing it onto place we mounted the TV. It took a lot of muscle to lift it up, but we managed.
Max wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Phew, glad that's done. So, you spend all your time watching TV?"
"Me? No. I usually watch TV on Sundays when there nothing to do. At night I turn the food network challenge on and fall asleep to Kerry Vincent rag on a cake."
"Then why all the HD?"
"My dad wanted to make up for paternal absence..."
"I know how that feels." She sighed. Most Dhampirs didn't know his or her father since the never stuck around, Max was no exception.
We plugged in all the cables connecting the TV to the various game consoles and premium high definition cable box. When we finished I turned on the TV. The channel was set on 414: the food network. At the moment Iron chef was on and Bobby Flay was making some mouth watering churros. I swear I could smell the warm buttery vapor that rose from those crunchy, steamy pastries. Mmm, what I wouldn't for one of those churros at the moment.
My stomach growled. Max laughed.
"Hungry?"
"Very." Stupid churros."Come on let's see what we can scrape up in the commons."
"In our Pjs?" She asked.
"Why not?"
"Okay..." she said a bit uncertainly.
We went downstairs, across the commons and into the mess hall. A few early birds sat down in scattered tables. I grabbed three watermelon slices, a big helping of cottage cheese and a donut. I looked at the Omelet bar and ordered one with cheese, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions. Yup, that should be enough food.
I ate it all up in what seemed like two bites. I sighed in satisfaction.
Max laughed. "I haven't seen such an appetite since I saw Jaws!"
I smirked, "I take pride in my appetite. How many Moroi have you seen eat as much as I do?"
"Only you, but aren't you going to over-stuff yourself when you go feed?"
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. I hated when people asked me about my feeding schedule. The fact that I needed a schedule in the first place made me feel like a zoo animal."Nah. I have it for dinner."
"Really? Because I sat with you at dinner on Thursday and you didn't feed then..."
"I-I feed when the rooms are empty. I don't like to make it a show." I wasn't
exactly lying to her, nor was I telling her the truth.
Her nose twitched, her most common reaction when she thought something was bull. "Ok, but I really think you should lo-"
"Wanna head back to the room? The game's gonna start." I cut in, honestly not wanting to push further into the subject.
"Fine." She twitched her nose again. I pretended not to notice.
We got upstairs just in time to see the first batter. The nationals were up first. He hit a single. The next two batters did the same. Up next was the one and only Pudge Rodriguez.
WHAM! He hit a homer on the first pitch! Thatta boy!
"YEAH YOU GO PUDGE. VAMOS BORICUA! WOO-"
Max covered my mouth with her hand. "Can you scream louder? I don't think they heard you in Japan!
I smiled sheepishly. "My bad."
Despite the awesome start off, the Sox ended up winning. Well, not that I was rooting for the nationals; they sucked. I just liked the team my favorite player is in.
"Oh my gosh that was a great game!" Max squealed in joy. I bet she was happy I woke her up. "Did you see those moves on that shortstop? It was like Awesome! He was a cheetah on the field. Not to mention he is really hot."
"José Iglesias is hot, and he's the youngest player." I admitted. I did have a thing for baseball players. And, aside from catchers, second base and shortstop players had the best legs and the best butt. Hmm... I wonder how Ray, Andy, and Kevin would look in a speedo...
"You know who else is young? Coach G." Max added in randomly.
I guessed Gabriel was pretty young, like 23-ish. Although sometimes he looked a lot younger; you could see it in his eyes.
"He's nineteen."
WHAT! No way! I mean yeah his eyes hold a winsome, childish smile, but there was no way he could be so young. The dude just graduated!
"For real?"
"Yup."
And then a major realization hit me. The day I had my little "episode", he told me he was THE Huracán Espinoza. Gabriel was catcher to Orsino Malvolio, the first Moroi to play baseball in any academy. The duo graduated last summer. I can't believe I simply forgot about that. Why was I so stupid?
"You would think he was older. Few people get nine Molnijas at that age..." I mused.
"Well then, we have a pretty bad-ass coach."
"Uh-huh." I looked at my phone screen. It was five-thirty. "I'm going to take a shower. Feel free to surf the channels."
"You don't have to tell me twice." She flipped the channel onto HBO. "Ooh! True Blood is on! That Eric is so yummy... I'd let that Viking pillage me any day."
I giggled, "okay then."
After a great steaming hot bath, I got dressed and started to brush my wet hair. I decided to leave it down naturally. As soon as my hair dried up, it would form the loose curls and waves it naturally had falling down my mid-back. To decorate my loose mane, I chose a silver headband.
I looked at my face in the mirror, applied moisturizer on my face, and added some mascara to my incredibly short lashes for an eye enlarging effect. The last touch was the lip gloss. And I knew a shade that would go perfect with my outfit. I got out to look for my school make up case. Aha! It was in my gym bag. I opened the zipper and searched inside. Crap, it wasn't there. I looked back
inside the bathroom, No luck there either.
I thought of the last time I really used that shade. I was playing the lead in the drama camp production of. In that case, the gloss would be in the make up case. I went back inside my closet. I reached for a large silver chest. On the lock, my mother's initials were etched onto the lock: NM. I ran my fingers over it. The etched silver was charmed with an spell as old as time itself to keep out unwelcome strangers. I thumbed the lock and felt the familiar tingle in my finger tips. I squeezed the top and bottom until I heard a pop. I released my hold on the lock and watched as the
case unfolded its many compartments. Small drawers replete with different eye shadows, lip shades, and accessories unfurled their polychromatic cargo.
"Woah, that is a lot of make up." Max stared at the chest. "And it's really bright."
"That's because it's stage make up. I've got every thing from animal to zombie make up. I
also have a few wigs and plastic skin molds as well." I said as I applied the right shade of gloss.
"Cool. Hey! Is this what I think it is?" She held up a sliver chain with a blue charm hanging from it. If you looked at it closely, it kind of resembled an eye. At the center was a black dot, surrounded by a pale blue ring that was within a white ring within a dark blue stone.
"Its a 'mal de ojo' charm right? Its supposed to protect from the evil eye." she chimed.
"Well my mom called it a n- a naz- ugh! I don't remember!" I shook my head. She used some Turkish word, but damn I forgot! I used to wear the charm all the time, just never in the same place. Sometimes I wore the charm as a bracelet, a head piece, an armband, etc... Then my mom died and I just stopped. I don't know why I stopped exactly, but I did.
"Its really cool. You should wear it."
"I would but the neckline's design is too busy to add a necklace. But... I can do this..." In a stroke of pure genius, I took the silver chain and wrapped it around my bare ankle. "There, its an anklet."
Max hummed in agreement. "Creative. What shoes are you gonna add?"
I grabbed a pair form the wall rack, Silver pumps that would add at least five inches, making me a grand height of five foot-nine. "These." I chirped.
"Are those-"
"Loboutinis?" I flashed a fanged grin. "One of the great things about living in Miami is the shopping. These we're on sale."
"Nice." Her eyes scanned the rack. "You know, if some of these come up missing... They'll be in my room... Just so you know." she raised an eyebrow playfully; You have got to be kidding me!
"I'll keep that in mind."
Some one knocked on the door. My heart skipped a beat.
"I'll get it!"
I opened the door to find Alexei leaning against the frame.
"Hi miss, is the patent office open today?"
"Mhm, take a ticket and well try to fit you in."
"I'd love to, but I have an appointment with the head of department today. I hear she's big on punctual people."
I glanced at the bedside clock, seven on the dot.
"You're right on time; she's impressed."
"Oye! Stop with the foreplay and leave, or the head of security will kick both of you out!" Max called from my bed.
"Ay, Go back to your novela!" I shouted. "Let's go"
He took me by the arm and led me down the backs stairs through the fire escape. The early evening sun hung low on the horizon, as though it waited for me to go outside to say good morning. The early spring air chilled me to the bone. I should've packed a shawl for the weather, but I chose looks instead. I sighed; I missed the hot, humid south Florida weather.
"Are you cold?" He asked.
"A little..." I admitted. "Montana's really cold."
He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me closer than I would normally allow, but the warmth radiating from his fleece coat was enough to shut my mouth.
We snuck in through an open service door and up the service elevator. The lounge looked like any other lounge except for the bar set up in the far side of the lounge serving the royal specialty: booze.
Royal Moroi mingled with one another. I recognized a few as the Royals from the fountain. Reyna Conta chatted idly with another royal, eyeing me with every step I took.
Alexei hung his coat on the rack by the door. He then unzipped the thick sweater he was wearing underneath, revealing a beige thermal dress shirt. With all the layers he wore, I was surprised he even needed the coat.
"Cousin!" A familiar voice called. Danielle Szlesky came up and hugged me until
I barely had any breath left.
"Danny... Can't... Breathe..."
"Oh sorry!" She let go. "Hi Alexei."
Cute and perky were two words I would use to describe my first cousin; she was basically a Barbie doll come to life: tall, blonde and gorgeous. I would often joke that he was born into a family of cheerleaders and then uncle Theo and aunt Peggy adopted her. We used to hang out all the time when we were little.
"So, you two an item?" She tilted her head.
"We'll see." He gave a killer smile.
I spent the next few hours flirting with Alexei and dancing with everyone in the party. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the other royals having a blast. A few drinks were had by the others, but I decided to stay sober. Alexei, decided to make a move, and I fell prey to his charms. We kissed in front of the whole party.
"Wow. You're good." he commented after.
"You're none too shabby yourself." I giggled.
"So does this mean that I'll get to take you out again?"
"Sure." I kissed him again.
"Wow, Alexei. You sure know how to rebound quickly." Reyna commented from her spot across the room.
"Quit it Reyna..." Danny warned.
"Stay out of this." She barked. "So, you dump me for this?" She signaled me up and down. "She's a little short for size, don't you think?"
"At least my ego isn't as inflated as yours is." I snapped back. Whispers rose
from the background.
"I pride myself on being Moroi, a royal one at that. I don't go around pretending what I'm not."
I scoffed. "That is the biggest load of shit I've ever heard. I fight because it's what's right."
"You fight with the Dhampirs because you've yet to specialize." She smirked in satisfaction.
I tensed. "Who told you that?"
"Please, anyone can hack into Ms. Carmack's computer. Seems like you do well in all elements, but you've failed to pass just one. What a pity, it looks like you'll have to repeat the course next year..." Aimee said as she strutted into the room.
My fingers twitched. I wanted nothing more than to punch their royal lights out. Instead I chose a more 'royal' response.
"Well Reyna, I wouldn't talk if I were you. If I have my sources straight, you slept with the Slavic art teacher to score you an A in the class."
She froze in shock. "Wh- what kind of whack-ass stories have you come up with?" Her voice rose an octave.
"Oh they aren't stories. You and your confidant should really find a better place to talk aside from the library." This earned a few snickers, Alexei included. Reyna ran out of the room. Aimee stood shocked.
" You bitch..." She started before I cut her off
"Aimee, I would seriously shut up if I were you; you know what happens when you mess with me. Unless you want me to tell every one what happened last summer."
She laughed. " You know nothing of last summer..."
"Don't I?" I teased.
The air around us physically tensed. The other Moroi looked around in panic. I glared at Aimee.
"Do you think you frighten me with those powers? Morra, let me give you a bit of advice." I strode to meet her face to face. "Strigoi don't use magic. Strigoi don't use fancy air tricks to cut off your air supply. Strigoi don't need to breathe; If you try to use one of those useless air spells on a Strigoi, you won't need to either."
"You're all talk and no game. I bet you've never seen a Strigoi up close." Aimee challenged. I laughed coldly, did she really think that she could get by with that? This girl had another thing coming.
"Don't I? Strigoi made me watch as they ripped my brother limb from limb. They forced me to watched as they used his veins and arteries as straws. Don't you tell me that I don't know what I am talking about, when I probably know more than all of you combined. It's time you woke up and popped that little bubble of comfort you live in because as soon as you get out into the real world, there will be situations where your guardian won't able to help you." Aimee was taken aback, but I wasn't going to smirk or laugh smugly; I was dead serious, and it would be disrespectful toward the dead, who haunted me enough as it was.
Danny placed her hand on my shoulder. "Come on, let's bounce." I nodded. We walked out, but not before Alexei caught up with us.
"I'll go with you." Alexei chimed in.
"Me too." Sean Conta added.
"And me." a random guest posited.
"Hey don't forget me!" Brett Ozera piped up.
I shook my head. "Nah, you guys head back to the party, sorry for ruining it, Brett."
He shrugged "It wasn't your fault anyway. You sure you won't stay?"
"Sorry, there are some things I gotta sort out."
"I understand." He smiled. I doubted he really did understand though.
Alexei snuck Danny and I through the back again. He was just about to leave with us when I stopped them.
"You should stay. I kinda need to take a breather."Danny hesitated before walking back in, leaving me and Alexei alone to talk.
"About what happened earlier..." He started.
I shrugged it off. "Hey don't worry about it. It wasn't that bad... They just needed to fall off their cloud." Alexei chuckled. When his laughs died down, his face turned severe.
"I know how it is..." He muttered.
I tilted my head. "Hmm?"
"Losing your sibling to the Strigoi. I know how you feel. I lost my sister to
them."
A simple "Oh" was all I could manage.
"Remember the Drosdov attack?" How could I forget? The school was put on hard lock down for it. For the next few months there was no contact with the outside. When 's was attacked, we weren't even allowed to leave our dorms.
"I do."
"They got my sister and her husband." The look on his face wasn't sad, but distant."I didn't see them die, but I saw them dead. It was terrible." I nodded. He
understood where I came from, but there was no way he would have ever felt the pain I felt.
I could remember that fateful night clearly, it was as though I saw it through his eyes. His fear surged though me, heightening my own. When he died, part of me was ripped away. Every day after that, I would wake up with a part of me missing; I wondered if that was how amputees felt when they lost a limb.
"Terrible is an understatement..." I blinked back tears that began to make my eyes sting. I hated to cry, it was a sign of weakness. I looked away.
"Alexei, I have to go..." I sighed.
"Does this mean we can't do this anymore?" He asked. I leaned over and kissed him lightly.
"We'll see, Rubio..." I prompted, calling him by a nickname I came up with on
the spot.
"Um... What does that mean?"
I laughed. "Rubio means blonde."
He absently ran a hand through his hair."Rubio huh?... I like it."
I smiled broadly, "Goodnight, Rubio..."
"Good night, Meu Premieu." With that, he closed the door, leaving me out in the
cold Montana air.
Damn, I really should have brought a sweater...
... i wanted churros... could you tell?
lol this is just a character development chapterr b/c magda was getting a bit mary sue-ish...
plus i wanted to develop the friendship between the girls.
like i said... the first few chapters will be a bunch of baseball terms.. bare (or is it spelled bear?) with me.. there here 4 a reason.. we'll see less of it as the story goes on
***spanish lesson!
mira chama- (venezuelan slang) look, chick/dude
salte!- get out!
calcetines- socks
mal de ojo- evil eye (you know what it is XD)
oye- hey!
ay!- sound effect... sounds like "I"
morra- (mexican slang) chick/ girl/ dudette
rubio- blonde