richellemead-vampireacademy01-vampireacademy-110824015328-phpapp02

Everyone knew Mr. Nagy drank all the time after school and kept a stash on campus. He
continually used new hiding places—and students continually found them.
Lissa leaned against Aaron's shoulder. "Aaron helped me break into his room and take them. He
had them hidden in the bottom of the paint closet.”
The others laughed, and Aaron gazed at her with complete and utter worship. Amusingly, I
realized she hadn't had to use any compulsion on him. He was just that crazy for her. He always
had been.
"Why aren't you drinking?" Mason asked me a little while later, speaking quietly into my ear.
I glanced down at my cup, half surprised to see it full. "I don't know. I guess I don't think
guardians should drink around their charges.”
"She's not your charge yet! You aren't on duty. You won't be for a long time. Since when did
you get so responsible?”
I didn't really think I was all that responsible. But I was thinking about what Dimitri had said
about balancing fun and obligation. It just seemed wrong to let myself go wild when Lissa was
in such a vulnerable state lately. Wiggling out of my tight spot between her and Mason, I
walked over and sat beside Natalie.
"Hey Nat, you're quiet tonight.”
She held a cup as full as mine. "So are you.”
I laughed softly. "I guess so.”
She tilted her head, watching Mason and the royals like they were some sort of science
experiment. They'd consumed a lot more whiskey since I'd arrived, and the silliness had shot up
considerably. "Weird, huh? You used to be the center of attention. Now she is.”
I blinked in surprise. I hadn't considered it like that. "I guess so.”
"Hey, Rose," said Xander, nearly spilling his drink as he walked over to me. "What was it
like?”