When We Were Young

Twenty-six:

Twenty-six:

A whole week.

A whole week Alina went without seeing or hearing from Aleksander Morozova. It was strange because a month ago Alina would have jumped for joy if she hadn't had to see or hear from him. It had taken only a few days and a dumb bet for Alina to get attached to him and his stupid face, and she thought that someone might actually care about her again. And she was disappointed again.

She knew what Nikolai said, and what Genya said. Morozova's mom was, apparently, a hard ass. She'd taken his phone and he'd vanished for a week, and he wasn't even going to be at the away game that weekend. Something else that bugged her: Vasily had switched classes. She hadn't noticed, because she'd been so distracted by Morozova, but on the fourth day of his absence she realized the older Lantsov brother wasn't in her class.

Alina saw him in between heading to one of hers, and she walked over to him. "Vasily!" she called.

Vasily glanced over his shoulder, and Alina noticed a grimace on his face. "Hi, Alina."

"Hey. Look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for cancelling on you. Um, but I noticed you weren't in class and so, I was hoping I hadn't completely and totally blown our friendship."

Vasily ran his hands through his hair. "It's fine. It wasn't anything to do with you, Alina. I got a call from my dad this weekend and he talked to me about my 'priorities'. Apparently, he thinks the master's program that I'm doing is just a way for me to waste time. So, I had to drop the classes I was taking and focus on finishing my degree instead."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Alina said, "I'll miss you in class, anyway. I know I said I couldn't go out last time, but what if we just hung out together some?"

Vasily had a wary look in his eyes that Alina couldn't understand. "Unfortunately, Starkov, much as I enjoy you and your lovely company, I am going to be very busy for the next few months. I don't think I'm going to have much time to hang out with anyone, honestly. Sorry if I got your hopes up."

Alina coughed. "Right. Okay. I can take a hint." She shouldered her bag. "Can I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"Did Mal finally tell you not to go out with me?"

Vasily smirked. "You've been hanging out with Morozova, right?"

Alina frowned. "I mean, a little. Why?"

"I know you think Mal's the problem, but trust me, there are bigger things going on here than just Mal being jealous and possessive over you. You never thought it was strange how the Oretsev's mysteriously helped you pay for college? And that you both got in here?"

Alina gripped the strap of her backpack tightly. "What are you talking about, Vasily?"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have said anything, but...your place here, in Ravka, at the University...it's so much more complicated than you know. Be careful, Starkov. Especially with who you give your heart. You might not like the outcome of things later." He started to walk away, but then he turned back around to look at her again. "You like old stuff, right? I mean, you're a cartographer. Can't get into cartography without liking old stuff, right?"

"Sure, I guess," she said.

"Well, the University library has every class yearbook going back to 1816. Every student that has ever walked through these halls can be found in there. I was in there the other day for a class project on family trees, and trying to find some stuff out about my Mom and what she was like here. Pretty amazing the secrets you can find just by looking in a yearbook...always hard to remember our parents had whole lives before us, huh, Starkov?"

Alina frowned. "Are you drunk, Lantsov?"

He shook his head and chuckled wryly. "Saints, I wish I fucking were, Alina. I really wish I were. Look, I'll see you around. Be careful, okay? Oretsev isn't the only one being 'protective' and sometimes 'protectiveness' isn't what you think it is..."

He walked away from her, and Alina shook her head. She had no idea what the senior meant, and so she shrugged it off. Vasily was notorious for drinking and smoking, amongst other things. While she hadn't smelled anything on him, maybe he was on a bender or something.

"Alina!" Alina turned and was surprised when she saw Zoya Nazyalensky coming her way through the crowd. Alina walked over to her, and the cheerleader nodded. "So, are you finally going out with Lantsov? Genya said something about you guys going out on a date."

Alina shook her head. "No, he just kind of...brushed me off. You're with Mal again. Did he threaten him or something?"

Zoya shook her head. "As far as I know, he hasn't. Listen, are you two going to make up? Drunk Mal doesn't exactly do it for me, you know, and he's been going on benders since the two of you got into your little fight."

Alina frowned. "Is he going to stop lying to me?"

Zoya hesitated. "Look, all Mal wants to do is make sure that you are----"

"Safe?" Alina finished. "I got that, but how can I stay safe if I don't know what he's trying to keep me safe from or why? Is it Morozova? Is it all guys in particular? What? Does Mal know I'm part of an arranged marriage from some secret family member and he's been paid to help preserve my honor something? I deserve the right not to be lied to by my friends."

Zoya coughed. "Don't be dramatic, Starkov. You know he's just protective. Please make up with him though. He's being a real buzzkill in bed, and normally he's not a buzzkill and Mama needs her buzz."

Alina rolled her eyes. "I'm not making up with Mal so you can have good sex, Zoya. In fact, until people start telling me the truth, you all can go to hell. Bye."