Nina Martin, a former student at Anubis house, mysteriously left just a year ago. One minute she was in class, and the next thing we knew it was like she never even existed.

Fabian became worried, thinking that we had run out of time to find the mask. Amber was freaking out too, saying she borrowed one of her tops, and never returned it. Joy was having a freaking field day, I'm sure, but showed remorse, none the less. As for the rest of the house... well they were all disappointed but carried on life as usual. As for me, I wanted to know why.

My name's Patricia. I am currently attending this school, and it's had its share of mysterious happenings in the past. It's not too unreasonable to assume something sinister has happened to the American girl, and I'm going to find out just what that is.

"Victor!" I say, spotting out house guardian as he was coming down the stairs.

"Go to bed, Patricia. I haven't the time for whatever it is you're concerned about."

And so he kept putting me off, and putting me off, and eventually I figured he'd never tell me what happened to Nina. I eventually reformed, like the others, and went on about my daily business as usual. Fabian forgot about her as well, soon after, and began to date my best friend Joy. As for Amber, she misses that shirt to this very day.

CH 1: Only one condition

"Hey Alfie!" Jerome calls from the other side of the breakfast table. "Think fast!"

Unfortunately for me, the one time he actually DOES think fast, it's to my disadvantage.

Jerome hurls a spoon full of mash potatoes at his partner in crime, who immediately ducks and instead lands on my uniform sleeve.

They freeze. "You..." I say, glaring at Jerome. "You stupid, stupid boys! Both of you, you're both idiots!" I scold, before rushing out of the room.

This is exactly why I requested to join an all girl's boarding school. I don't see Amber and Mara getting in random food wars. I don't see Joy deviously tricking me into some immature plot. Sure, we have our flaws too, but at least ours are sanitary.

"Whoa! Slow down there yacker!"

Oh, and I almost forgot about the dumb nicknames. "You guys can be so incredibly RUDE!"

And it doesn't stop there.

All day I dealt with it, like I do every day. Throwing spit balls, making inappropriate noises during class, staring at every girl they meet, laughing at others misfortune.

"Joy, I can't deal with this anymore!" I assert when, for the fifth time today, I'm hit with food.

"Why not? This time it's chocolate flavored!" The girl smiles.

I roll my eyes. It's not funny...

"I just think this school would be a lot better off if-"

"Oh! Hold that though!" Joy interrupts. "Fabian!" She waves, and runs after him.

Even the nice ones. They ruin everything.

Later that evening I burst into Mr. Sweet's office.

"I'm done. I'm done with this school, I'm done with these students, why haven't I been transferred yet?"

"Patients, miss Williams! I'm sorry but every school in the area is in the middle of the semester. You'll just have to-"

"No!" I protest. "I'm done, waiting. I want out of here, NOW!"

"Well, I believe the Holland Academy was here recruiting last week, but-"

"Fine! I don't care if it's a thousand miles from here! Just... get me there as soon as possible!" I insist, and stomp out the doors.

I'd already filled out the required paper work... it's been sitting there for over a month... so why am I just now hearing about this Holland school? I swear, these teachers can be so stupid at times!

It's almost time for dinner when Trudy enters my room, announcing I have a visitor.

"Ah, Patricia!" Mr. Sweet greets. "I was just stopping by to let you know, you'll be heading off to your new school first thing tomorrow morning, so have you're things ready when the cab comes to pick you up."

Finally! "Thank you Mr. Sweet!"

"Yes, well, if this is really what you want."

"All girls, right?" I confirm. "No boys?"

"That's correct."

"Then yes." I nod. "It's exactly what I want!"

He says his goodbyes, and wishes me luck at the new academy. When I turn around, I notice Joy standing in front of me, her arms crossed and glaring at me angrily.

"How long have you been there?" I smite.

"Long enough to know you're going away! Patricia, how could you?" She accuses, stomping her foot.

"Oh, like you care! Look at it this way, you get your room to yourself now."

Somehow I don't think this was a comforting benefit to her.

Joy instantly changes from angry to upset, and throws her arms around me and starts crying into my chest. "Don't leave!"

Now I just felt bad...

"Joy, calm down. It'll be okay." I confide. "You still have Fabian."

She perks up at this. "Oh my gosh! I completely forgot!"

"About Fabian?" I squint. "I never thought that you'd-"

"No, I mean- he and I are supposed to study buddy! Oh, I hope he hasn't disappeared again..."

And just like her train of thought, she wanders off. Yeah, I can tell I'm going to be greatly missed around here.

Later that night, Mara enters my room in the middle of me packing.

"So it's true, then." She sighs. "You're leaving."

"Joy told you?" I gather.

"Jerome, actually. Then I heard it from Amber, then Eddy..."

"Eddy?" I question, stopping her there. "Why would he care?"

Mara shrugs. "It just came up. That's not the point, though!" She walks further in the room and has a seat on my bed. "Why haven't you told anyone?"

"I don't know. I guess I just... figured no one would care." I admit.

"That's not true! We all care about you, Patricia! And you know it!"

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, maybe YOU care, but no one else seems interested."

"Well we are." Fabian says, and I just now notice him at the door.

I explained to them my reasoning, and shut the door before anyone else overhears the conversation. They said they understood, although Mara accused me of stereotyping. Even she can't ignore the mess those guys make around here, though.

There's a knock at the door, and Joy steps in.

"There you are!" She excites. "I've been looking all over for you!"

"Joy, I'm really sorry about not telling you sooner." I respond.

"That's okay." Joy says, with little interest in my apology. She turns to Fabian. "Where in the world have you been?"

Oh...

"I was just saying goodbye to Patricia."

She approaches him now, wraps her arms around him, and gives him a quick kiss. "But I wanted to see you before we're banished to our rooms after ten."

"You guys!" Mara scolds. "Not here!"

She points toward the door, and they comply, leaving an awkward silence for me and Mara.

"So... tell me about this new school." She says.

I think she was trying to act interested and happy for me. I'm glad there's sane people like her and Fabian who actually care about my happiness.

"Actually I don't know much about it at all. Only that it's girl-exclusive, and it's called..." I ponder. "I think it's called 'Holland' or something like that."

"Wait... Holland?" Mara intrigues.

"Yeah! That was it."

She had a horrified look on her face. "Um... Patricia. Holland boarding school was here last week."

"I know. Mr. Sweet said something about them here recruiting or something..."

"They were! But, I don't think you were there that day. It was a seminar, and you had to sign up... the lady who represented them gave a lecture on the school, and, well..." She looked dead into my eyes. "It's an American school, you know."

My eyes widen. "What? No, I did not know! Mara you're kidding!"

I just had to be persistent, didn't I? I had to go to a school, without boys, that moment. Had I listened, maybe I would have picked up when Sweet mentioned there were no schools 'in the area' that were taking students at the time.

"Me and my bright ideas..." I groan, slouching further into the seat of the cab.