Author's Note: Hi, guys!
This is my first time writing for House of Anubis. Some of you may know me from other fandoms - Sonny with a Chance was my biggest phase - but this time, I'm posting for a new show. House of Anubis is just...It's everything I wish I could do with my own writing. It has mystery. It has romance. It has perfect cliffhangers that always leave us wanting more. I feel like there's so much I, as a wanna-be writer, can learn from this show. (Not only that, but it's also fun to watch!)
With that being said...
This story begins where season 3 ends. Patricia was a sinner, Eddie and KT saved the world, and now, Patricia and Eddie have decided to give their relationship another shot. However, that's pretty much where the story turns semi-AU. What do I mean by that? Well, I'll tell you:
The Return of Sycon is a story I wrote a few years ago after my Grandpa gave me an idea (Yes, even back then I wrote all the time). Therefore, the whole storyline and characters were already planned out before I ever saw an episode of House of Anubis. I got looking at the story lately though, the one I wrote several years ago, and realized, 'Huh...This could be a WHOLE lot better!' I want to make it better - but I want your opinions, as fellow House of Anubis fans, to tell me how I'm doing. How do you like my storylines? What can I do to make the story more mysterious? What parts do you like? What parts don't you like?
Basically, I want your feedback as readers. I want YOUR help to turn my story into the very best novel it can be!
What am I really telling you? I'm saying that Eddie and Patricia will probably be the only characters in the story that you guys know already. Everything that happened on the show has happened in this story: Eddie and Patricia still attend boarding school, they met when Patricia tripped over Eddie's feet, blah blah blah. This is just...Their story of what happens the summer after season 3. When they're in America. Without the rest of the Anubis students.
Still confused? Well...Maybe if you try reading it, you'll understand better?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from HOA. Or Cedar Point. Sycon is mine though. You can't have him.
Chapter One
Do-Over
For the second time in her life, Patricia Williamson was in America.
In hindsight, she wasn't sure why she agreed to come back. It sounded like a good idea at the time – she was so happy about finally having Eddie as her boyfriend again and not having to worry about him liking KT or some mystery girl sending him random emails (which, she now knew, she'd been stupid to believe in the first place. She should've known Denby was behind everything. Eddie would never cheat on her!). She was still a little light-headed when Eddie pulled her aside and begged her to spend another summer with him and his family.
"It'll be better this year," he had promised, taking her hands in his. "It could be a second chance for us, a do-over!"
How was she supposed to say no when he was giving her that puppy-dog smile, the one that said, 'Come-on-you-know-you-want-to-say-yes!'
All in all, agreeing to the visit just because Eddie wanted her to probably wasn't her greatest idea. Patricia associated America with a lot of things. It was the place where she met Eddie's mother for the first time, a very kind woman named Jody Miller who showered her with nothing but kindness for the duration of her stay. It was where she learned about Eddie's past by touring his old school and meeting people he'd grown up with. America was also where, after Eddie said something totally stupid about her, Patricia stood from the dinner table – with Jody watching her every move – and poured an entire pitcher of orange juice over her boyfriend's head.
The worst thing about America though was the fact that Patricia had broken up with Eddie while she was there.
The break-up wasn't something Patricia did one morning after waking up and telling herself, "I think I'll dump Eddie today!" No, it was a decision she hadn't made lightly, one that she could only make after spending weeks thinking over all her options. Sure, Eddie was her first real boyfriend, the first boy she had ever kissed, and yeah, she had no idea what a real relationship was supposed to be like. However, her cluelessness was not the only factor that played a role in the break-up.
It was late the night Patricia heard them talking. Eddie and Jody were already in bed – or, at least, she'd thought they were. However, when she got thirsty and headed toward the kitchen, she stopped when she heard their voices flowing from the room.
"So?" Eddie had asked and Patricia could almost hear the smile in his voice. "What do you think of her?"
There was only one 'her' Eddie could be referring to. Patricia stayed pressed against the wall, knowing she shouldn't eavesdrop but at the same time staying exactly where she was. She wanted to hear Jody's answer.
"I think she's a lovely girl, Eddie," she replied. "Your father was right about her though: she isn't afraid to let everyone know exactly how she feels about something."
"I know!" Eddie replied with a laugh. "Isn't it great?"
There was a long silence from the kitchen. Patricia considered running back to her room. What if Eddie and his mom were heading to bed? She couldn't let them see her, they'd be upset and-
"What?" Eddie finally spoke up.
"Oh, it's nothing, sweetie," Jody waved off her son's concern. "If you're happy with Patricia, that's all that matters anyway."
Now it was obvious – to both Patricia and Eddie – that Jody was hiding something.
"What do you mean, 'If I'm happy'?" Eddie demanded. "Do you have something against Patricia?"
In the hallway, Patricia nodded her consent, agreeing whole-heartedly with his question. It was what she would've asked had she not been in hiding.
"Of course I don't have anything against her!" Jody clarified, bringing a grin to the redhead's face. "I just…She doesn't seem like your type, Eddie."
It felt as though someone had slapped Patricia across her cheek.
"Well…She isn't my type," Eddie admitted.
That was all Patricia could stand listening to. She turned around, forgetting about her thirst, and ran back to her room. She didn't cry that night – she wasn't the kind of girl who cried over a guy – but she did miss out on the rest of the conversation.
"She isn't my type," Eddie said a second time, "Which is why I think I like her so much! I've never met someone like her before, someone who can be so mean one second and have me lowering my shield the next! She's just so…Amazing!"
After that night, Patricia kept a close watch on Eddie. Most of the time, he acted like the perfect boyfriend, but she couldn't help from wondering how much of it was really an act. If she wasn't his type, how long could they manage a relationship before one of their many differences pulled them apart? How much time would go by before he fell for another girl, someone who would easily take Patricia's place in his heart?
She waited until they were at the airport before breaking the news to Eddie. She chose her words carefully and delivered them with a face lacking any emotions. Before he could do more than say, "What are you talking about, Yacker?", she ran away, shaking her head and muttering a tiny, "I'm so sorry!"
That was it. She spoke to Eddie maybe one time after that – he'd left a million messages on her phone during her flight and she felt he deserved some answers – and they decided that they would tell everyone at Anubis that it was a mutual decision. Lying would be easier than telling the truth.
Well, everyone knows how that story ended: Patricia realized how much she missed Eddie and they got back together, sealing the deal with a kiss while fireworks exploded over their heads. It was the most cliché moment of Patricia's life, standing there kissing under the fireworks, but she didn't mind. She was just happy to be back in Eddie's arms where she belonged.
And now, instead of chatting with her boyfriend via texts or video chats while spending their vacations worlds apart, Patricia was standing in the middle of a crowded airport, craning her neck as she stood on her tiptoes, trying to spot her boyfriend in the busy building.
Yep…Patricia Williamson was really back in America despite how horribly her last visit had gone.
Some people just never learned, did they?
Eddie was late. He knew it not only because the clock in his car told him so but also due to his cell phone going off every two seconds. Patricia's ringtone filled the vehicle, causing him to grit his teeth. He knew her plane had landed twenty minutes ago; she didn't need to keep reminding him.
His phone was still ringing as Eddie finally found a parking spot. He cut off the engine, threw his seatbelt over his shoulder, and jumped out of the car. This time, instead of ignoring his girlfriend, he pushed the 'answer' key.
"Where are you?" Patricia shouted before he could say anything. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Calm down, Yacker," Eddie replied as he ran across the parking lot. "I've been running around the airport trying to find you for, like, half an hour. I thought you said to meet you at gate seven?"
He was lying, of course. The last time he'd spoken to Patricia, she had given him the information several times: meet her at gate nine by exactly 2:15. However, lying about the gates would give him the time he needed to reach her. While he was really just entering the building, Patricia would think he was simply passing from the wrong gate to the correct one.
"Seven?" She scoffed. "I told you it would be gate nine."
"Yeah, I always get my nine's and seven's messed up," Eddie explained, pressing on before Patricia could question him. "Just…Stay where you are, okay? I'll be there in five minutes."
"Fine," Patricia relented with a sigh.
One frantic run through the airport later, Eddie found what he was searching for. Patricia was sitting several feet away with three bags of luggage gathered around her feet. Judging by the bored expression on her face, she wasn't happy.
"Hey!" Eddie greeted, flopping into the chair beside hers. "How was the flight?"
"Stupid," she responded. "Some little boy sitting behind me kicked my seat the whole way here. Oh, and the lovely old lady sitting next to me found it intriguing that I wasn't from America. She spent the entire trip telling me all about this wonderful country!"
"The lovely old lady doesn't sound so bad."
"Really?" Patricia smiled sweetly. "Can you name every president the United States has ever had?"
"No," Eddie admitted.
"I can."
Not knowing what else to do, Eddie held out his arms, attempting to wrap his girlfriend into a hug. However, she made things difficult; she struggled, trying to break free.
"No offense or anything, but I've been on a plane for hours. I smell like a mixture of vomit, old people, and peanuts." She climbed to her feet. "I'd like to shower before you get all girly and clingy on me."
"Girly and clingy?" Eddie echoed. "All I did was try to hug you!"
"Exactly."
Eddie stood up as well, slinging one of Patricia's bags over his shoulder. He would show her how girly he was!
"Fine. If I'm so 'girly and clingy', I guess I won't hug you for the rest of your visit," he said, shrugging his shoulders like it wasn't a big deal. "And if hugs are too clingy, I'm sure holding hands or kissing would fall under that category too, right?"
"Listen, Weasel, I never said that-,"
Her protest came too late. Eddie was already grabbing the rest of her bags – a suitcase in his right hand, the handle of a pull-around bag in his left – and without another word, he stalked around the airport, heading toward the exit.
Eddie knew Patricia was following him. He could see her from the corner of his eye. She was walking close to him, eying him suspiciously, almost as though she was trying to figure out if he was really angry with her.
Long before they reached the exit, Eddie felt another hand reach for the bag with wheels. He glanced down in mock surprise, watching as Patricia, now dragging the luggage behind her, took its old place. She snuggled into his side, placing his arm around her waist when he refused to do so himself.
"I thought I was the clingy one?" he teased.
"Shut up," Patricia snapped, punching his chest playfully.
Instead of arguing it further, Eddie tightened his hold and kissed the top of her head before she could stop him. She groaned, informing him once again that he was definitely the girl in their relationship, only this time, she smiled as she said it.
This, Eddie decided right then and there, was going to be the best summer of his life.
Patricia was surprised how much she remembered about Eddie's house. She didn't need her boyfriend to remind her which room was hers (upstairs, first door on the right) or where the bathroom was (two doors down from her room, the closet with all the spare towels separating them). After rummaging through her bags to find her bathroom essentials (Eddie told her a million times she was welcome to use his stuff, but the last thing she wanted was boyish smelling hair), she even remembered to let the shower water run for exactly thirty seconds before stepping beneath it (otherwise, she'd be stepping into the coldest water ever).
Jody was more than a little happy to have Patricia back. All the redhead needed to do was step foot in the kitchen – honestly, she was expecting to find Eddie there. He was always hungry, after all – and Jody was right in front of her, throwing her arms around Patricia's neck.
"I'm so happy you're here!" she exclaimed, her blue eyes shining with excitement. "When Eddie told me you two had gotten back together, I couldn't believe it! I wanted to speak with you – you know, to confirm he wasn't making it up – but he said something about you guys being on a date and not wanting me to ruin it. So I called Eric instead – surely you remember Eric, Eddie's father? – and he told me that it was true, that you and Eddie really were a couple again! The next time I spoke with Eddie – he called me almost every night, the poor boy. He's really a people-person, you know – I told him he just had to invite you to stay with us. It was such a pleasure having you around last year!"
Normally Patricia didn't like people like Jody, someone who could ramble on for five minutes straight without taking a breath, but there was something special about Eddie's mom. It was hard to dislike someone who was always shoving welcoming gifts in your face, such as Jody was doing now.
"I baked these this morning," she explained, setting a tray of cupcakes on the island in the middle of the room. "I thought maybe we could eat them together while you catch me up on everything that's happened since the last time we've seen each other!"
Jody sat down on one of the stools surrounding the island, motioning for Patricia to join her. She did and instantly found herself reaching for one of the sugary snacks. The food on the plane had tasted horrible!
"So?" Jody asked, giving Patricia a chance to take one bite. "How did you and Eddie get back together? I hope he did some huge, romantic gesture! He thinks he knows so much about how to impress girls, but I suppose he doesn't know as much as he thinks he does considering your break-up. Did he apologize for the stupid stuff he did last time around? How have things gone since you've gotten together again? Is he treating you okay?"
As suddenly as her appetite had struck her, it was gone again. Patricia set her cupcake down, staring at the pink frosting instead of Eddie's mom. She could answer the first few questions easily – about how she and Eddie had gotten back together – but the ones about how things had gone afterwards? How was she supposed to know the answer to that? She'd been a sinner longer than she'd been herself. She had no idea what happened to their relationship once she lost her soul.
"Patricia?" Jody questioned softly. "Are you alright? You look a little pale…"
"It's the jet-lag," Patricia answered quickly. "The time difference between the UK and America is huge."
"I know exactly what you mean," Jody nodded. "Every time Eddie gets back after a semester of school, he spends his first week of vacation trying to get his sleeping schedule back on track. I'm sure you must be exhausted! Why don't you head upstairs and take a nap? We'll catch up later!"
Deciding a nap would be better than telling Jody about sinners, Patricia heeded her advice. She was just entering her bedroom when she paused, tilting her head toward Eddie's room (located only a foot or two from hers). From the sounds of it, he was having a conversation, although whether it was with himself or not Patricia couldn't be sure.
Glancing down the staircase to make sure Jody wasn't on her way up, Patricia tiptoed her way to Eddie's door. She pressed her ear against the wood, eavesdropping on him. 'I'm not doing anything wrong,' she told herself firmly. 'As his girlfriend, it's my duty to make sure he's not crazy. If he isn't talking to anyone right now, well…We might have a problem.'
"No way!" Eddie was saying, his voice plenty loud enough for Patricia to hear (the Miller's had very thin walls). "Your dad is really letting you leave for the entire summer? Yeah, I know my mom sends me off to boarding school, but that's different…She has my dad to spy on me, remember? It's not like I don't have any parental supervision…You're going to have so much fun, man!"
There was a long pause. Patricia's best bet was that Eddie was on the phone with someone and that was why she could only hear one side of the conversation. She wondered who he was talking to.
"Just think about it," Eddie spoke up again. "A whole summer to do whatever you want without your dad ever finding out…Well, yeah, I know it's not going to be all fun and games…Yes, I understand you're going to be working…Still, that has to be one of the coolest jobs I've ever heard of! It would be even cooler if they gave you some free tickets you could give to your best friend…They're giving you free tickets?!"
Patricia had so many questions. Who was Eddie talking to? What was this 'super cool' job? Where were the free tickets for?
"Of course I want a ticket!" Eddie told the mystery person. "I might not use it until the end of the summer though, after Patricia leaves…Yep, she flew in earlier today…How do you think she reacted when she saw me? She was upset! I got busy helping my mom bake cupcakes for her arrival and lost track of time…It was cool though, I told her I forgot which gate we were meeting at and she totally believed me!"
Well, at least there was one good thing that came out of her eavesdropping. Now Patricia knew the real reason Eddie hadn't greeted her on time at the airport. She couldn't wait until he got off the phone, when she could tell him she was on to his little secret-
"I know. I wish you'd stuck around a few more days before leaving. I was really looking forward to introducing you to Patricia. I'm sure you would've loved her…What do you mean, you could still meet her? I don't know…Doesn't it seem kind of shady to invite my girlfriend over for the summer and then throw a random trip on her like that? Yeah, I know I said I would take the ticket, but…I don't know what she would say…I guess I could ask her…"
That should've been her cue to step away from the door, Patricia realized three seconds too late. By the time she noticed Eddie had fallen silent, she didn't have time to move. He opened his door and she stumbled into his room, her face flushing in embarrassment.
"I was just…" She tried to think of a good explanation, which really shouldn't have been very hard. How many excuses had she come up with when covering for Sibuna? "Your mom asked me to get you! She needs your help with – with, uh…"
"It's okay, Yacker. You don't need to lie," Eddie comforted, hiding a smile. Patricia was kind of cute when she was trying to stay out of trouble. "I don't mind that you were listening in. The call was kind of about you anyway."
"So I heard," she admitted now that she knew Eddie wasn't upset. "Who were you talking to anyway? And why were you talking to them about me?"
"We weren't really talking about you," Eddie clarified. "We were discussing an activity that involves you – or could involve you, if you're interested. Technically, your question isn't accurate, so really-,"
He shut up when a very well-aimed pillow nearly collided with his head.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked, placing the pillow back on his bed where it belonged. "A simple 'please' would've been fine, you know."
"The pillow was my way of saying 'please'."
"Right…" Eddie shook his head. "Anyway…You know how I have friends outside of Anubis, don't you?"
Patricia's only response was a blank stare. Eddie felt his jaw drop. "You didn't know I had friends here in America?"
"Well, I've never seen you hang out with anyone, so…"
"You've seen me hang out with my friends!" Eddie protested. "Last summer, we got together with everyone to play a game of football, remember?"
"Actually," Patricia pointed out, "We played soccer, not football. And you didn't introduce me to any of your so-called friends. You were too busy tackling them while running around in tights."
Eddie would've argued about the whole football versus soccer thing, but with Patricia, it was a moot point. Besides, he had something more important to discuss with her.
"The point is," he said, changing the topic, "One of my best friends got a job working at Cedar Point. Before you ask, Cedar Point is this awesome amusement park with tons of roller coasters and food that's way over-priced! Since my friend's an employee there, he was able to get a few free tickets and he's offering them to us."
An amusement park, huh? It wasn't Patricia's ideal way to spend her summer vacation. After suffering through such a hectic school year, she was looking forward to having some peace and quiet for a few months. She couldn't see that happening at a place where people were screaming their heads off all day long.
"You don't want to go," Eddie stated, watching his girlfriend's face carefully. "We don't have to go if you don't want to. I mean, I want to, but if you really, really don't…"
He was giving her that look again – the same look he gave her every time he wanted something and he knew she was going to say no.
The old Patricia would've stuck with her original answer. She would've told Eddie that she would rather stay at his house than go to some park she'd never even heard of before. This Patricia though, the one who had been a sinner, felt she owed her boyfriend for the time when her soul was gone and he took her back even after she tried turning him over to the dark side. How many boyfriends had to deal with their girlfriends attempting to turn them into sinners?
"Call your friend back," she ordered. "Let him know we'd be happy to take the tickets."
"You are the best girlfriend ever!"
Eddie ran across the room, giving Patricia a bear hug. It would've been a happy moment if he hadn't squeezed tight enough to cut off her air supply.
As Eddie brought his phone back to his ear, Patricia left him alone, wondering what she'd just gotten herself into.
Author's Note: Like I said...This is Eddie and Patricia's story, so you're not going to see very many House of Anubis characters.
Still, if you want to continue reading, I would LOVE to hear what you guys think! Don't be afraid to share your thoughts whether they're good or bad; anything that will help me improve my writing is great!
So...Review?