Author's POV
Ivy woke at around four PM and moaned. It was the third time she was waking since she returned back to the academy. First time she woke, she'd hoped that all that happened the previous night had all been a dream. But when she checked out the room, she realised it was a futile hope. She was back and was back for good. At least, until she turned eighteen, which was still a year and few months away.
Discreetly, she got out of her room and went for her everyday run. She was on her way back into her room when she bumped into two girls from the academy.
"Hello, we were going to knock on your door," one of them smiled.
"Yo, I'm Celine, and you?" Ivy welcomed.
"I'm Roxanna and that is dozy Elisabeth." The taller of the two introduced.
"So, basically Roxy and Els." She smiled.
"Are you going to wear that the whole day?" Els scowled looking at her outfit.
"Well definitely, nothing wrong, right?"
"Not a chance in hell am I letting you to wear that the entire day." Els announced.
"I have nothing else, yet." Ivy explained.
"Hmm… you're around my size in everything other than the chest." Els reviewed with a smart articulation. "I have the ideal outfit for you! After breakfast you will get a make over." She radiated.
"You're not kidding?" Ivy looked dead panned.
"No, she's not. Els is a complete fashion nerd." Roxy shook her head.
"I'm not a fashion nerd. I simply care about what people wear." Els heaved.
*****
Ivy's POV
When we walked into the dinning lobby, peeps were all seated, eating and gisting away.
I turned with a glare and I recognised this particular brat. Jake O'Connor had been the athlete of the school quite a while back and from the glimmer in his eyes, I could see that he was still the athlete of the school. He was the person who picked on me occasionally, and took advantage of other people.
But all that is in the past now, I was very sure I could take him on in physical combat. In fact, I couldn't wait to be paired with him in training so I could beat his ass.
*****
"Celine!" Els screeched when she saw who knocked on the door. Without a second thought, she yanked me into the room and slammed the door behind me. Roxy was lying serenely on the bed watching a film that I identified as 'Step Up 2: The Streets'.
"I love that film!" I shouted thrusting onto the bed next to Roxy. "That guy certainly has a body to die for and, gosh, he can dance!"
"So you're into the dancing kinds, huh?" Roxy said and Els sneered.
"I don't actually have a complete type actually. There were lots of dancers where I came from, yet they were all total jerks. Also I was also a dancer like them so it would've been bizarre." I explained.
"You miss them, don't you? I mean your team." Roxy asked passionately.
"Well yeah, I mean, one minute I was living a simple life, the next minute I'm hauled into a crazy school of vampires." I sneered.
"It's not so terrible here once you become used to it." Els consoled me. "Truly, it isn't so awful."
"How did you get hauled here when you didn't apply?" Roxy asked inquisitively as she stopped the film.
"Enough about me. We should continue with the film." I gestured, trying to change the topic. The last thing I needed was for them to know too deep into my background.
"Nuh-uh, you're getting changed first." Els declared.
"You want to dress me up to watch a film in your room?" I smirked.
"After this we're going down to the common room." She squealed.
Els got my arm, basically dragged me off the bed and towed me into her bathroom. "Put that on," she pointed at a heap on the counter then left me to change.
I was going through the garments and I noticed with a smile that it was the sort of things Hannah loved to dress me in.
There was a rose designed trim cami top which was a little close around the chest but embraced my stomach pleasantly and some worn-out thin pants. The top had a tantalizingly low neck area that I was genuinely certain would get me in tonnes of trouble with the young boys. I took a look at myself in the mirror and couldn't resist the opportunity to grin. A picture of what I used to look like jumped into my brain. A long fringe that covered my face and unattractive garments used to decorate my somewhat full body. Right now, that was all gone.
I got out of the restroom. Roxy's eyes broadened as she gazed and Els giggled in delight. "You seem as though you could suffocate in that top," she remarked.
"Well, it is somewhat tight." I said. She ventured behind me and released a portion of the strips there. Now, the top fitted perfectly, cozy but not choking. "Please tell me there's a scarf or coat to go with this. I'd prefer not to give any male Guardians heart attacks?" I inquired.
"Come here." Els gestured absentmindedly. She hauled me back into the restroom and Roxy followed us in with a pack close by. "I'm thinking twists."
"I agree with you there," the blondie grinned.
They put me down on a seat before the mirror and I just let them work away at my head. When they were finished, I was astounded no doubt. My cheeks were somewhat redder and my lips were cherry shaded. My hair had gone through radical change; twists outlined my face and tumbled down my back.
"What shoe size are you?" Els inquired.
"Don't worry about that, I have a perfect pair back in my room."
"Then you're good to go, here's your coat." Roxy agreed.
I headed back into my room and got my shoes and telephone. I strolled back out and hoped that the other two will come out already dressed. Els had now changed into a purple bodice scaled down dress with tore tights and dark boots. Roxy was wearing a red body hug dress and matching heels.
"Okay, um, you girls actually seem as though you're heading out to a party."
"We are," they both giggled, hauling me down the stairs. What I saw stunned me.
As soon as I stepped into the dark common room, as it was called, the lights came on uncovering a beautifully designed room and I went to scowl at Roxy and Els.
"You girls knew?" I was dazed and attempted to fake outrage, however I was unable to stop the grin that pulled at my lips.
"We don't usually do this." Els smiled.
"As a matter of fact, we never do this, but we've never had another student our age before." Roxy added.
"Gosh! I don't know what to say." I blushed and hugged the two of them.
"Say nothing then, just go acquaint yourself with everybody," the pair pushed me into the crowd, who were already dancing away to some wonderful music. Before the day's end, I'd become more familiar with most of the dhampirs' names, particularly those in my year. Some Moroi had turned up as well and I felt a debt of gratitude.
Every so often I heard a few tunes which I knew were mine thunder through the speakers and I restrained my dancing so that it didn't look special or suspicious.
The party was enjoyable without a doubt, which was a startling thing. At first I thought it was gonna be an all out calamity, but it was great to at last have the opportunity to associate with peers in my year. They weren't really awful as I recalled.
"Okay, since it's the initiation and welcome party, let's see what you can do!" A dhampir shouted from the crowd.
"Well what would you have me do?" I asked, lifting a single brow.
A few of them seemed to have a double take as they stared at me. It was then that I remembered it was one of the things my dad used to do all the time back then. Damn, Martin was right, the Ivan blood had kicked in after my sudden disappearance from the academy. Seems I had to act more cautiously.
"How strong would you say you are?" one of them inquired. His name was Josh, if I remembered correctly.
"Fine, how about this? If you could pin me for over five seconds, I'll give you 100 bucks. Anyone at all fit for this accomplishment." I boasted.
Everybody looked at one another briefly before somebody spoke up. "Could you give the young men a kiss if it happens that the champ is a man?" His name was Travis.
"OK." I shrugged. "No big deal." Everybody gasped, probably amazed by my confidence.
One after the other, the guys accepted the challenfe, so did the young ladies, obviously needing the cash attached.
After thirty minutes of skilfully avoiding opponents, it could be agreed that every one of these dhampirs needed proper training. Only one came so close to winning. Luke had been able to pin me for just about two seconds, however when we were on the floor I quickly hurled up and threw him.
"Geez girl, how could you get so great?" Luke laughed, rubbing his back.
"I've been training as a martial artist since I was born, basically." I shrugged. In actual fact, it was nothing far from the truth since Mum had been showing me combative techniques since I was able walk.
"Okay, enough battling!" Els griped.
"Sing us a song, Celine!" Roxy urged as the pair hauled me onto a made up stage.
Panic hurried through me instantly. Sing a song? Nuh-uh. Absolutely no chance! If what Guardian Martin had said was true and that individuals in this school have heard my song, I'd be busted surely! Not a chance was I risking exposure so soon!
What am I going to do?