From the Bookshelf of Vampire Academy: VA all the way…

The last interview was a trendy bar downtown. I'd taken it on faith that Adrian knew probably every drink in the world and had made up a fake credential for the resume, claiming he'd taken a bartending class. I stayed in the car for this one and sent him alone figuring he had the best chance here. At the very least his outfit alone Would be appropriate. When he came out in ten minutes I was aghast.

"How?" I demanded. "How could you have screwed this one up?"

"When I got in, they said the manager

The last interview was a trendy bar downtown. I'd taken it on faith that Adrian knew probably every drink in the world and had made up a fake credential for the resume, claiming he'd taken a bartending class. I stayed in the car for this one and sent him alone figuring he had the best chance here. At the very least his outfit alone Would be appropriate. When he came out in ten minutes I was aghast.

"How?" I demanded. "How could you have screwed this one up?"

"When I got in, they said the manager was on the phone and would be a few minutes. So I sat down and ordered a drink." This time I did lean my head against the steering wheel.

"What did you order?"

"A martini."

"A martini." I lifted my head. "You ordered a martini before a job interview."

"It's a bar, Sage. I figured they'd be cool with it."

"You shouldn't have crossed me. Not now, not back then." I stared unable to believe the audacity. It was the first time he'd directly referenced what wnt down years ago.

"Well that's the thing," I shouted at his retreating figure. "I didn't cross you back then. You got off easy. It's not going to happen again. You think I'm worried about you? I'm the one you need to be scared of."

Keith came to a halt then slowly turned around, his face awash with disbelief. "Watch it." he said at last. "I can make your life miserable."

I gave him an icy smile. "You already have, and that's why I've got the advantage. You've done your worst, but you haven't seen what I can do yet."

"Is it a money thing?" asked Adrian. "Because I've got enough. Just tell me how much it costs."

There was a long pause, and I hoped Adrian wouldn't be asked to show any cash since the last of his money had gone to promoting cancer.

"I don't know," the guy said at last. "If I was able to do this copper tattoo you're talking about, and I'm not saying I can, you probably couldn't afford it."

"I'm telling you," said Adrian. "Just name your price.....I want it to look badass. You probably can't even do the design I want."

"That's the least of your worries" said the guy. "I've been doing this for years. I can draw anything you want."

"Yeah? Can you draw a skeleton riding a motorcycle with flames coming our of it? And I want a pirate hat on the skeleton. And a parrot on his shoulder. A skeleton parrot. Or maybe a ninja skeleton parrot? No, that would be overkill. But it'd be cool if the biker skeleton could be shooting some ninja throwing stars. That are on fire." said Adrian

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," said the tattooist.

"That's not what the ladies are going to say," said Adrian. "I'll give you my info. My names Jet Steele."

when I reached my room I gasped when I saw the door.Someone had taken red paint and drawn bats and fanged faces all over it. Scrawled across the front, in big blocky letters were the words

VAMP GIRL

Tears of frustration glinted in Jill's eyes. Is it possible she really thinks Jill is a vampire?
"Maybe I should do something about Laurel. There are other ways to get back at her besides freezing water."

"No" I said quickly, "Don't lower yourself to that. Revenge is petty, and you're better than that."
Jill gave me a sad smile. "You keep saying that. But don't you think something should be done about Laurel?"

Oh yes I Definitly did. This had gone too far, and I'd been wrong to let it slide. Jill was right that there were other
ways to get back at someone. And I was right that revenge was petty and nothing that Jill should sully herself with. That's why I was going to do it.

"Whoa." said Adrian, "If you get to come along as a chaperone, so do I."

"If we both do, then Eddie will want to as well," I pointed out. "Doesn't sound like much of a date."

"So?" Adrian's brief moment of seriousness and concern had vanished in the face of what he saw as social fun. "Think of it as less of a date than faux-family outing. One that will entertain me while protecting her virtue."

"Adrian were focusing on Jill here. This isn't about your personal entertainment."

"Not true," he said green eyes sparkling. "Everythings about my personal entertainment. The world is my stage. Keep it up, you're becoming a star performer in the show."