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tray of food behind her.   She didn’t even wait for Sadie to follow her before she rushed out of the dining hall.
    Sadie paused on the other side of the swinging doors, a hand thrown tragically over her forehead.   “I’m doomed!   This was supposed to be my year,” she groaned, turning her face away.   “My dreams of a hot live-in boyfriend are ruined.”
    Roseline clamped her hands tightly on her bag strap, stilling the tremor that threatened to overtake her.   He recognized her.   She knew he had.   But did he actually know who she was?   Surely he’d heard stories of her kind.   But could he possibly know her exact identity?  
    “Where are you going?” Sadie called as Roseline stumbled down the hall.  
    “Bathroom,” she managed to say just before she ducked inside the reeking bleach soaked room.   The smells that inundated her did little to still her stomach.   She threw open the handicapped stall door and embraced the porcelain throne.   When all of the contents of her stomach had been forcefully expelled, Roseline sat with her head back against the tile wall.  
    The bell rang, voices came and went as the next period began and still Roseline sat.   What did she care about skipping class?   It wasn’t like these pathetic teachers could teach her anything she didn’t already know.   She’d lived through the wars, gone to the parties, studied her way through the entire library at Bran castle.   Oh yes, Roseline was well educated.   Impeccably so.  
    A couple hours passed, and when she could no longer stand the eye burning chemical smell, Roseline slipped from the bathroom.   It was the middle of the fifth period.   She knew she should probably go to class, just so she could explain herself to Sadie, but she dreaded meeting Mr. Robert’s leering gaze.
    “Hey, watch out!” a shout rang out through the deserted hall.  
    A ball whizzed through the air, heading directly for her face.   Roseline’s hand reached out just in time to save her nose from being rearranged.   Heavy footfalls announced the arrival of the football’s owner.
    “I am so sorry about that,” the boy’s cry choked off when he found Roseline’s aqua eyes staring back at him.   “Hey, it’s you!”
    Roseline’s eyes narrowed.   “Excuse me?”
    Gabriel blushed furiously.   “No, I mean…I saw you at the game a couple weeks ago.”
    “And?”   Roseline questioned, curious as to why Gabriel’s pulse had sped up.   He hadn’t even been around her long enough to feel the attraction.  
    Rubbing the back of his head, Gabriel smiled sheepishly.   “And I was hoping to run into you sometime.”
    Roseline smiled, tossing the football into the air.   She caught it easily and handed it back over.   “Well, it looks like you succeeded.”   She turned and headed away.
    A cute boy at the end of the hall called out, but Gabriel waved him off.   He disappeared around the corner with a shrug.   “Wait a second,” Gabriel called after Roseline, jogging to catch up.   “Aren’t you going to let me apologize?”
    “I think you’ve already done that,” Roseline pointed out, not slowing.  
    Gabriel reached out, gently placing his hand on her arm to stop her.   Roseline gasped, jerking away as she felt the intense heat radiating out from his hand.   It was like someone had just used a blow torch on her bare skin.   No mark, no searing flesh, but that same intense feeling.   Gabriel’s eyes widened as he felt the burn.
    “What was that?” he whispered, staring at Roseline.  
    Instead of answering Roseline hurried away.   The bell rang and doors opened, slamming against the concrete walls.   Sadie burst out of the room at the end of the hall, rushing full out to Roseline’s side.   She noted Roseline’s blank stare, the way she cupped her arm and Gabriel’s glassy eyed gaze.   “Come on,” she called, pulling Roseline away from the main crowd rushing through the hall.   Gabriel was