A/N: Hey everyone here is Chapter 2. I'm sorry if Zoey's classes aren't right I don't remember her class order I don't have the book easily accessible. Please read and review. And please review nicely, you don't have to tell me you like it but give me some advice to make it better. Please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own House of Night it belongs to P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast. I only own the OC, Philomena. Rayen Autumn King owns the O.C., Stella.

CHAPTER TWO

I walked into my first class, Vampyre Sociology, taught by the school's High Priestess, Nefret. I wasn't going to tell anyone, but I had a bad feeling about her. Sure she was all nice and welcoming on the outside, but I can see past the plastered on friendliness. I sat down in a seat as Zoey walked in; she smiled at me and sat next to me. The rest of the class trickled in at different times. Right as class was about to start, Nefret came in almost gliding off the floor. I could see why people were drawn to her, she had power…almost too much of it.

She went right to the front of the room and stood sorta in the center. She let her gaze cross the room, a smile on her face, and then her eyes settled on me, "Good evening everyone. We have a new student. Why don't you introduce yourself?"

My eyes widened, she knew I didn't speak. Then I saw it; the shadows around her squirmed slightly, she had dark plans I could tell. I looked at Zoey, who seemed to know what I wanted her to do. We both stood up and looked at the class. Nefret didn't look particularly happy, but at that moment she was no longer a concern of mine.

Zoey cleared her throat drawing the attention to her, "This is Philomena. And the reason she doesn't introduce herself is because she can't talk, and I don't think she wants to walk around with her notebook to show you her name." We sat down simultaneously, and the room was silent for a minute, and then everyone smiled and waved.

Before the class got too out of hand, Nefret called it to order. She then went about teaching but she didn't give me a review of what they were talking about before now. I raised my hand whenever she turned around, but she didn't call on me. I looked at Zoey who was frowning and then she looked at me and whispered, "I will tell you what we learned later." I nodded and mouthed 'thanks' and she nodded to it.

The class ended and Zoey and I compared our class schedules and we realized we had the exact same one. Next was fencing with Dragon Lankford and Zoey told me I would find out why he was called Dragon. When Zoey helped me explain to him that I couldn't talk he smiled and introduced me himself. The class was pretty fun, but I was really looking forward to the Equestrian Studies with Lenobia. I loved horses and always wanted one of my own. But my parents never got me one, claiming it was just a phase and I would get over it; leaving them with a pasture ornament that they still had to pay for.

When Fencing was over with we went to lunch. I got a small salad with all the fixings and poured on a fair amount of Thousand Island dressing. Then I walked over to where Stevie Rae was already sitting down with chicken nuggets. She smiled and began eating as Shaunee and Erin walked over followed by Zoey. Then a boy showed up and I knew right when I saw him he was gay. Which I had no problem with at all.

He smiled at me, "Well, who is this neophyte?" Causing questioning stares around the table.

Shaunee turned to Erin, "You know what I'm thinking Twin?" She leaned toward her.

"That we should kick him out for using words that no one but him knows the meaning for?" Erin threw in.

I started to scribble in my notebook, It means a person newly converted to a belief, as a heathen, heretic, or nonbeliever. And I was just converted to a fledging and now follow your belief system.

He threw his hands up in the air, "Finally, some else besides Stevie Rae understands me!" The table broke out in giggles. "Still," he looked at me, "Who are you?"

Okay Absolum. I'm Philomena, I smiled at him. He had sounded like that caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland.

He was silent for a moment, "Well, that's a new one. But I can already tell we are going to be great friends."

I smiled and then went to eat my salad. It was fairly silent as everyone ate and then it was time for classes to resume and Zoey and I started for the stables. It was silent for a while as we walked, but Zoey seemed to get tired of the silence and started to babble.

"If you like horses, you will be in heaven in this class! I believe we get to watch Lenobia work with a young colt for a little bit, and then I want to show you Persephone! She's the mare I work with. She is so sweet and pretty…" and it continued like this for a while. I tried to pay attention and then it just got sort of repetitive.

We were almost to the barn when we heard, "PHILOMENA!" I turned, blinked a few times and saw a familiar blonde haired girl and I felt my face break out in a full blown grin. Then I was tackled, "OH MY GODDESS, I'M SO GLAD I FOUND YOU! I'VE BEEN RUNNING AROUND EVERYWHERE LOOKING FOR YOU! YOU'RE HERE AND I AM SO HAPPY I FINALLY FOUND YOU!"

I frowned slightly and gave a look that said, 'Yes I'm here, why are you?' This girl could read all my expressions.

She grinned and lifted her bangs, "LOOKIE LOOK!" She was smiling and acting way younger than we were.

I nodded then tilted her head, 'Who are you rooming with?'

The girl tapped her chin, "No one. I have an empty room—hey we can see if you can switch to my room! I'm all by myself and I heard from these two girls in the dorms—who are like different packages but still act like twins—say you're rooming with a hag from hell!"

I pulled out my notebook, That would be Shaunee and Erin. They are known as the Twins. And yes I'm rooming with Aphrodite, a snutty rich girl. But her room is really nice and her bathroom is all done up fancy. She has a Vicchi shower. Don't ask about snutty I just came up with it, it's snooty and nutty combined.

She blinked, and then pouted, "You are going to take a fancy bathroom... over rooming with your best friend?" She made a sniffling sound.

No, I'd rather be out of that room. Everything is pink...but I don't know what Nefret will say...

She stole the notebook, and starts reading past pages, and then steals the pen and writes. I KNOW ALL! This was our usual code for we will talk later. I nodded and she handed back my notebook. She tilted her head, "So, going to the stables?" I nodded again. "Alright then! Let's go—oh hi!" She finally noticed Zoey. "I'm Stella."

Zoey smiled shyly, "I'm Zoey."

Stella smiled, "Pleased to meet you." Zoey nodded and turned to continue to the stable as I looked at Stella. She nodded, "Yeah, yeah. I missed you too."

I frowned slightly with the look that said, 'you ok?' I was concerned this wasn't how she normally acted.

She shrugged, "We'll write later, ok?" I nodded. "Now I wanna see a horse." I nodded in agreement and we continued down to the stables.

Stella filled me in on the things I missed, like Kelly broke up with Nick. She didn't miss anything that had happened since I was marked. I listened quietly waiting for her to bring up my parents and I knew she heard from them.

When she didn't say anything I looked at her and showed her my notebook after writing, Anything from my parents? I pushed a black strand of my hair out of my eyes.

She sighed, "They said and I quote, 'Remind her that a woman is to be seen and not heard'. They are still the same, and that is never going to change you know that." I nodded and looked down. We were silent for a minute and then she put a hand on my shoulder causing me to look at her, "Hey, you are no longer their daughter. You don't 'have' to be silent anymore. And you can pretend on visiting day." She smiled as I bit my lip and she assured me, "Don't worry about it right now." I nodded slowly. She looked at the stable, "I think I have this class too."

I smiled and clapped. Then she frowned slightly, "And I have the sociology class with Nefret…" I held up one finger, signifying first period. She thought about it for a minute, "I think so…Left my schedule in my room." I nodded and pointed to myself. "You too?" Again I nodded. "SWEET!"

I shrugged and in a voice that only Stella could hear said, "Sorta…"

She sucked in a breath, looked at me, and then grinned, "OH MY GODDESS! YOU TALKED! YOU TALKED! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, YOU TALKED!" I froze for a second my eyes widening, I know she didn't mean to, but the yelling made me want to take the words back. She covered her mouth and said calmly, "I'm sorry."

I blinked and shook myself out of it, "It's fine. Just startled me." Mentally I was jumping around excited that I had actually talked for the first time in years.

She clapped, "I'm so happy I finally got you to talk!" She was practically jumping, I had never actually spoken to her. When we met it was right after I shut down my voice box, and at that time I thought it was for good, but I guess things change.

I smiled and we hugged. Then I pulled away, "Now let's go see the horses!" She nodded and we ran up to catch up with Zoey. I closed my eyes and sent a silent prayer up to Nyx, 'Let me be happy for a while at least.'

A/N: Thanks for reading Chapter 3 will be posted soon.