Reading VA: Reading Vampire Academy (A VA fanfic)

Eight

RPOV
Nadia woke at just past four. Which meant everyone else had to too. Dimitri and I had only barely gotten to sleep before she awoke and was the alarm for everyone else. We were lucky to have slept an hour.

When we walked in the common room the adults started grinning and laughing. Even Mom and Abe, which was a bit disconcerting.
"You two didn't really sleep, did you?!" laughed Christian. Karo had covered Paul's ears and he covered Zoya's.
"Do you really wanna know?" I retorted. Dimitri failed at trying to be private and not give us away.
"Ew! I don't need to know that about my baby brother!" Karo groaned. It gets worse later in the books. I so wanted to say that but that'd be a spoiler.
"That's my child!" Mom retorted, completely grossed out.
"Who's having what for breakfast?" asked Mama as a distraction.
"Blini please, Mama," I requested.
She smiled fondly, "I thought as much, daughter." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mom scowl. Apparently Mama caught it too. "As long as Roza is with my son she's my daughter," Mama calmly defended. "Just as Dimka is your son as long as he's with Rose." Dimitri and I shrank back into each other. This is us they're talking about here!
"Mama, I'll help make breakfast. I wouldn't mind some blini either, it's been so long," ah, Dimitri saves the day already. Now Olena scowled... Then softened as she realised she could use some help and, clearly, wanted to cherish any time she now had with her only son, my man.

They took everyone's requests and moved to the kitchen.
"I still don't understand why the nickname 'Roza'," Mom commented.
"It's her name in Russian," Sonya explained.
"How'd it come about? Who used it first? Dimitri while still at the Academy, or you lot?" she responded.
Karo looked at me then answered. "Spoilers," she told my mother. Alberta, meanwhile, wore a knowing look. So, my Comrade had let slip that affectionate nickname right in front of her.

Breakfast was delicious. As was always the case with Mama's cooking. I went to say thanks to her after having helped clean the dishes, but she told me Dimitri had specifically requested to and then did cook my breakfast.
"Well, aren't you just the most loving man in the world," I sexily thanked him. Only to get chastised playfully by Karo for doing that tone and look in front of children.
Christian scoffed at the statement and display. "What am I! Chopped liver?"
"Yeah, I know you do similar for your girl," I retorted.
"She's my woman! My Princess." was his comeback.

"Let's get this show on the road. Who's reading next?" I changed the topic.
"I will!" Mia cheerily volunteered. She then picked up the book and opened it to the relevant page. "Burning with anger, I fought harder and better that day than I ever had in any of my classes with the novices. So much so that I finally won my first hand-to-hand pairing, annihilating Shane Reyes. We'd always gotten along, and he took it good-naturedly, applauding my performance, as did a few others.
""The comeback's starting," observed Mason after class.
""So it would seem.""

No one was speaking, commenting or interrupting. It was early in the day, and despite having the energy to do so, everyone just wanted to get this over and done with. That's not to say anyone was disinterested, because they were far from it. It was simply that this was a long and laborious process.

I tuned back in to hear, "Lissa looked as green as the sweater she wore, and I pulled her away before I even finished my food and immediately launched into a string of obscenities about Natalie's social skills." That brought about a few comments. Even Mia contributed.

Mia soon restarted reading. Covering the rest of that conversation. As soon as Jesse was mentioned and the lead up to the lounge incident comments and questions restarted. Dimitri looked at me lovingly and I suspected he wanted to tell me something but it would be a spoiler if he did.

Mia continued when everyone once again quieted. "Once animal behaviour started, I pondered the likelihood of Mia being responsible." That brought about a quip from her and I simply returned with friendly banter. "From the smug look on her psycho-angel face, she certainly seemed to be enjoying the sensation caused by the bloody fox." I got a friendly glare from her. All I did in response was shrug my shoulders. "But that didn't mean she was the culprit, and after observing her over the last couple of weeks, I knew she'd enjoy anything that upset Lissa and me. She didn't need to be the one who had done it." She grinned before adding a sarcastic, "Oh thanks!". She returned to reading out the wolves drama she'd stirred up and how the rest of that class played out. The Ralf Sarcozy and Christian commotion included. Christian smirked at the memory of how he defended and protected His Princess. Mia went on. My opinions on the display of affection and how I thought the others would react. Also read out was the post-class conversation with Liss. "She shot me a look of disgust. "Not everyone thinks and acts like you.""

That caused Dimitri to speak up. He refused to let that comment go un-responded to. After all, this was my bond mate insulting his Roza.
"Roza was already changing, Lissa." he started. "You, of all people, should have known or at least remembered she had a facade in play, that she'd always had a facade in play. My Roza is nothing, nothing, like she lets the world see. From what I've observed, she doesn't even let you fully see her true self." He was trying not to give spoilers.

Lissa took his speech remarkably calmly. She knew he was right, constantly reminding herself not to let it get to her because she could see from his aura that he was defending his lover, his soulmate. She also kept in mind that she knew my romantic past with him. Oh Liss. I told you most of it and in detail but I didn't tell you the exact details of my sordid affair with Strigoi Dimitri.

"I flinched at the words." Mia continued when she could. "Then we noticed Mia was passing by. She hadn't heard the conversation but had caught onto the tone. A snide smile spread across her face." She went on to read the rest of the interaction. Then the first time I purposely slipped into Liss's head. "Focusing on her now, I tried to remove the wall. I steadied my breathing and cleared my mind. My thoughts didn't matter, only hers did. I needed to open myself to her and let us connect.
"I'd never done anything like this before; I didn't have the patience for meditation. My need was so strong however, that I forced myself into an intense, focused relaxation. I needed to know what was going on with her, and after a few more moments, my effort paid off.
"I was in." Mia added, "and that's chapter eight."

Christian made another comment on my cliffhangers. Liss and everyone else bar Dimitri and I launched into an intense debate over the ethical and moral side of that action. Lissa, having had enough and wanting to get through another six chapters by ten o'clock tonight, called an end to the discussion. In the polite and well mannered way of a princess without pulling rank.
"Let's call an end to this discussion. The bond exists for a reason. Rose was simply worried about me. I hope I'm not alone in wanting to complete as many chapters as possible by bedtime tonight. For now though, who wants light refreshments?"

That shut them up quick smart. All agreed to bringing out another round of water and some light snacks. Liss and I were the ones to play hostess' for the meantime.