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CHAPTER TWO
"Oh, you're scre-e-ewed Hathaway . . ."
"Shut it, Mason, he'll sign it, he has to, he was just saying how big of a deal this is for me!"
"I'm not saying Professor Badica won't sign it just to be a dick, but there's red tape, he'll have to explain to the headmistress why all of a sudden you were failing and now poof! Not failing."
I look at the paper in my hands, slightly crumpled from my nerves. All my other teachers had an easy time signing the permission slip to continue in the trials in Russia. Not only am I passing all my other classes, barely, but still, but they were glad to be rid of me. Except for my linguistics teacher. I may suck at math and cooking but I can pick up languages as easily as I can armbar a motherfucker.
Badicas class though. . . It's just so bo-o-o'ring. He's so bo-o-o'ring!
"He said I could do extra credit."
Mason scoffs and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"His extra credit is ten page essays. Our flight for St. Basils leaves tonight."
"UGH! I'm screwed!"
I leave Mason in the hall and stalk off toward Badicas class trying to think of some way I can sweet talk him into not ruining my life and career and just sign the damn paper. He wanted me to see him after the school day but instead of doing Final Combat we were let out early to get our signatures and pack our stuff and I'm pretty sure he has a free period right now so I'm just going to learn my fate now.
I'll be fucking damned if im not on that plane at noon, which is vampire midnight.
I also still need to tell Lissa that I'll be leaving her for the next three months . . . we've never been away from each other for that long, what am I going to do without her?
I reach his class and give a quick knock before swinging open the door, "Professor, I need to talk to- . . . holy shit! Uh . . . um . . . professor?"
Well, I'll be damned . . . I expected to walk in and see his head buried in papers . . . not the school nurses skirt.
"Uh oh my, uh Hathaway this isn't . . ."
I hold up a hand stopping him from continuing as Nurse Zelkos hops off his desk with a shriek and pulls down her dress, not daring to make eye contact with me, knocking a filing container over to crash to the ground.
Despite my absolute shock and disgust, I temper myself as best I can from having the reaction I want to have and think about what's important.
I just got myself a one way ticket to Russia!
"No need to explain, Professor." I barely get the words out without laughing.
I walk down the aisle to his desk where the nurse is trying to gather herself and hide behind him while he's wiping his mouth and adjusting his pants.
Ew!
"I'm just here to have you sign a paper for my Guardian Program, stating that my grades in your class are in good standing-"
He opens his mouth to interject but uh uh, not happening.
I raise my voice and place my permission slip where Nurse Zelko's ass had just been, "and that I have passed your class and have your full permission to go on the trip to Russia to complete my training before graduation. And with your signature and "adjustment" of my grades, I saw . . . nothing. Hmm?" I look at him with a pleasant smile, a smile saying you have no other choice or I will tell your wife you cheating bastard.
I offer my pen.
He takes it from me without a moment's hesitation and signs the paper, granting me my freedom.
He offers the pen back but he used the hand that wiped his mouth so . . . no fucking thank you. I take my slip and smile as big as I can, ignoring the outstretched pen.
"Alrighty then, uh don't let me interrupt any further."
I walk calmly out of his classroom but as soon as the door is shut . . . I let loose.
"Hell yes!" I let myself have a little victory dance out in the hall open for anyone to see, I don't give a shit I'm going to Russia! I will join the ranks of some of the most prestigious Guardians there have ever been, including the likes of Arthur Schoenberg!
"No way . . ." I stop shaking my ass and turn to see Mason running towards me with a huge grin, his freckled face in absolute disbelief. "No way you got him to agree!"
"Ye of little faith!"
He picks me up and twirls me and I do a very un-Rose thing and practically squeal. I don't give a shit though, I'm on my way to make history!
"Have you told Lissa yet?"
My good mood immediately dampens. "Shit, no. How do you think she'll take it?"
"I'm sure she'll be hyped for you, this is a huge deal. Now, don't let me stop your victory dance." He says, putting me down with a turned on grin and a hungry look in his eyes that has me on edge and not in a good way.
I slap at his arm playfully and shake my head.
When we first learned that we qualified to be apart of the Big 5, as we've come to call ourselves, we thought it would be like every other year; you get extra training and opportunities to make connections for when we're out of the academy and in the field. Not to mention get offered the best jobs and higher pay most of the time. But this is something that's never happened before. Final combat and other competitions like it have always happened in house and the winner just gets bragging rights for the most part. This is a whole other ball park. To have the very first pick of assignment? That is life changing for a Dhamp.
"I guess I should go and tell her, she should be out of class soon."
"Yeah, for sure, we'll meet at the front gates tonight okay?"
"Totally."
Mason walks off with the same lust filled look and I curse myself. Part of me is glad I didn't hurt his feelings with my gentle rejection but the other part knows how screwed I am. Mason is my best guy friend and I love him, but so-o-o not like that. I've known for years he's had a thing for me but I thought we had established we would only be friends. I mean yeah we flirt but it's all harmless fun not meant to be taken seriously and he's not supposed to look at me like that!
"Shit."
I shake my head and I head over to the Guardian's offices, practically dancing the whole way there, and tap on Alberta's door with fingers crossed she's in right now.
"Enter."
I peek my head through with a big shit eating grin and watch as her dark brown eyes narrow.
"You did not get all your teachers to approve, I've seen your grades."
Still not stepping all the way into the room, I thrust my hand up making sure the permission slip makes as much noise as possible. "Why do you people all seem to forget who I am? Do I look like someone that doesn't get shit done?"
Alberta grins and tells me to get my ass in and shut the door.
"I don't even want to know how, I swear."
I hand the paper over and sit in the guest chair opposite her desk with my legs over the arm.
"Are you sure? It's really juicy!"
"No!"
"Fine, whatever, I wasn't going to tell you anyways." I flip my long brown hair over my shoulder and stick my tongue out at her.
She looks at the signatures and smiles softly.
"Damn, girl . . . I'm speechless!"
She stands and rushes over to hug me, making me laugh.
Out in front of everyone else she's Guardian Alberta Petrov, one of the baddest, hardest bitches in the world. But when it's just us and trusted others, she's Bertie, my Godmother. She's only a few inches taller than me, with a completely shaved head. Which would look completely ridiculous on me, but with her dark complexion and gorgeous high cheekbones thanks to her Nigerian lineage it makes her look like she could cut a bitch and then go model for Vogue.
"All the Guardians have already placed bets and you are by far the favorite to win." Bertie chuckles.
I do a small fist pump showing my approval and getting a warm feeling in my stomach from the support.
"Are you going with us to Russia?"
She nods, "Originally it was going to be Stan as well, but he's the only one that can cover my work and no one can cover bodyguard theory."
I nod, relieved she'll be there.
"Sweet."
I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket and twist my butt up to get it.
"It's my mom."
I answer the call and put it on speaker phone.
"Hey Ma, you're on speaker with me and Bert."
"You're in deep shit, Rosemarie!" A very angry Scottish accent yells at me.
I roll my eyes
"I got all my teachers to sign off." I say deadpan.
A brief moment of silence passes.
"Oh."
I smirk at Bertie and wait for a beat.
"Well, then . . . I'm so fucking proud of you!" The Scottish accent yells in joy this time.
I laugh and start to tear up.
"Thanks, Mom."
"How the hell did you pass your Moroi history class? Last time I checked the parents portal you had a 'D'."
"Umm," I snort, not sure if I should say anything. I know I told Badica I wouldn't . . . But it is pretty juicy.
Eh, fuck it, it's my mom and Bert, they are master secret keepers, trust me.
"I walked in on Badica and someone who is definitely not his wife, getting it on!"
Mom and Bert both howl with laughter.
"My girl, you were touched by an Angel."
I shrug my shoulders even though my mom can't see it.
"This opportunity can set you up perfectly after graduation, but you must be careful, since it's the first of its kind the entire Moroi world has its eyes on all of you."
I sigh, "I know, but I promise I can handle it."
"I know you can, mo chridhe, but something feels off. There's a lot of . . . discourse, my charge is being secretive, he's not letting me privy to as much."
Alberta nods her head sadly, "I've felt similarly. This competition does seem like a good thing but there's been rumblings of . . . something else, I'm not too sure yet. One oddity was I've been Instructed when speaking of the Trails to act as positively as possible." Alberta furrows her eyebrows. "It is a positive, progressive thing, so why should I be overhyping it?"
I nod as my mom hums from the phone.
"I say, we go into this with a positive outlook but with our guards up as well." I reason, not wanting to ruin this experience if it isn't necessary.
"Agreed, mo chridhe."
Alberta nods and with their support of my words I feel I can be as excited as I want to be. Whatever comes, will come, and I'll just have to be ready for it.
AN: Thanks for reading and please please review!
*mo chridhe - Gaelic - My Heart
