Hey internet friends, frequent readers or complete strangers! I apologize for the time I've been away even though I announced my break over. I was really caught up in reading The Hunger Game series. I'm in love with those books! And after I finished those (I read all three in a day and a half [: ) I went on vacation to the Bahamas. In other news: my family is freaking moving again! So in about a month if I'm gone for a couple days that's probably why. I realize I haven't updated any of my other multichapter stories but I will soon! I PROMISE! Well except for the House of Anubis on Facebook! I'm pretty sure I'm going to discontinue that…ANYWAYS, I'm super happy that I'm starting a new multichapter story. I think you'll all like this one. I really hope so because it's taken me a while to write this first chapter.

Super thanks to my amazing beta: Bubbles of Angst! (:

This whole story while be in Amber's POV.

Disclaimer: I don't own House of Anubis or the characters.

Rekindling The Fire

I stepped out of my taxi cab in my pink trench coat and pulled out my umbrella.

It was raining lightly outside, but I could see thunder clouds rolling in the distance.

The driver shut the taxi door behind me and went to take my bags out of the trunk.

I stood in front of Anubis House, the place I would call my home for the school year, the place where I made so many friendships last year and the place where I helped solve a mystery.

I knew I was one of the first to arrive, every year I am. Usually the only one here before me is Jerome. Jerome because, well I'm pretty sure his parents don't really care about him and want to get rid of him as soon as they can.

Why am I so early? You might ask. Well, that's because I want to get all my stuff set up in my choice of a room before someone else can take the room I want.

The taxi driver struggled to the doorstep with my 8 suitcases and a few duffel bags. I giggled and followed closely behind, anxious to see who's arrived.

"Here…you go!" The driver puffed out, dropping my bags in front of the door.

"Thank you!" I beamed and paid him quickly so I could get inside.

He ran back to the cab and pulled away without giving me my change. I pouted a little and started dragging my bags inside.

I entered the foyer with a few bags and looked around. It was still as creepy as ever but the whole place had a gleam about it. It seems like Trudy was cleaning the house for all of us.

"Amber, sweetie!" Trudy exclaimed as she entered the room, rushing forward to give me a hug. I buried my face in her shoulder. Trudy gives the best hugs. She's kind of been a mother to me, since mine died when I was 12.

"I've missed you so much, Trudy!" I exclaimed, smiling as she pulled away.

"I've missed you too, deary." She responded when something beeped in the kitchen. "Oh! Those are the welcome back cookies!" She ran to the kitchen and I laughed.

Once I had successfully moved all my bags from the front porch to the foyer, I wiped my forehead and examined the situation. I had way too many bags for me to carry all of them upstairs by myself. Last year I had Mick carry them for me, since he's the strongest in the house and he was my boyfriend. But he's probably not here yet and last I checked he is Mara's.

I'm pretty sure I'm one of the only ones in the house who isn't in a relationship. Nothing happened after prom with me and Alfie, we're just really good friends.

"Hello, Amber. I see you've packed lightly this year." Jerome chuckled as he entered the foyer.

"Jerome!" I shouted and ran forward to give him a hug. We had gotten closer when we worked on the mystery together.

He stiffened at first but then hugged me back. I swear I caught a smile.

"Now, do you want to help me with these bags?"

"Amber, what the hell did you pack in here? It weighs a ton!" Jerome grunted while dragging my last duffel bags and suitcases up to my room.

"It's just shoes in those ones, Jerome." I giggled while opening the door to me and Nina's old room. I decided this room had too many memories to not choose it again.

He dropped the bags in the pile forming on the floor and then plopped down on the stripped mattress that would become my bed.

"Has anyone else arrived yet?" I asked, opening a wardrobe and beginning to empty my suitcase contents into it.

As if to answer my question, Patricia stuck her head into my room. "Amber, do you have an extra pillowcase? I left mine at-"

She was cut off by me strangling her into a hug. She hugged me back while laughing.

"Jeez, Amber. It's only been like three months since I last saw you." She said, pulling away.

"I missed everyone so much! I mean, sure Paris was nice but—" This time it was Patricia who cut me off.

"You went to Paris? I spent the summer visiting my Grandmother in Whales!" Patricia said, clearly jealous.

"Better than me, who spent summer at home in boring old Bath." Jerome said, standing up from the bed.

"Hey, slime ball." Patricia sneered, waving to Jerome. He waved back and then exited the room and thudded down the stairs. "Well, I should finish unpacking. Later, Amber." Patricia called out as she left my room and entered hers' and Mara's.

I looked around my bare room and sighed. I hate unpacking, I thought as I continued to empty my suitcases.

I finished making my bed and looked around the room. It was bright and colorful, at least on my half. Nina hasn't arrived yet to decorate hers.

I ran downstairs to wait for someone to show up. After about twenty minutes of sitting in an arm chair and waiting, I heard the door open.

"It's pouring buckets out there!" Mara exclaimed while pulling her bags inside. Her black hair was dripping wet and she was wearing a hideous yellow raincoat, that was soaked. She pulled off her raincoat and hung it on the rack, revealing a purple flowery shirt and jean shorts.

"MARA!" I strangled her into a hug. I mean, I've forgiven her. After all, I did some nasty things to her.

"Amber!" She said and smiled when she pulled away. "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but I thought you hated me."

"Oh! Well, I decided to forgive you because you really are a good friend and I did some really mean things to you and it's not really-"

"Mara?" Jerome cut me off, running from his room to the foyer.

"Jerome!" Mara threw her arms around him and he spun her around. This caused her to break out into a giggling fit.

When he placed her on the floor, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"Okay, what just happened?" I asked, extremely confused. Isn't Mara dating Mick?

"Mick and I broke up on the last day of school and I saw Jerome when I was visiting Bath with my family over the summer. We just kind of…" Mara explained while Jerome wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

Oh, I remember! Mara was crying at breakfast on the last day but I thought that was just because she was going to miss everyone.

"Well you guys are super cute. I'll make you a scrapbook!" I exclaimed, already thinking of color schemes and a couple name. "I'll call you guys Jara!"

"Oh, Amber." Mara said, laughing. Jerome started kissing her neck and I took that as a sign to give them privacy.

I was about to leave when Mara whispered something to Jerome. He picked her up over his shoulder and carried her into his room, locking the door behind him.

I giggled and went back to my armchair, waiting for everyone else to arrive.

Mara wasn't kidding about the rain. It had really picked up and it was pounding the house with wind pulling at the trees.

"Is it ever not raining in England?" I heard Nina ask while she entered the house.

"Once in a while." I heard Fabian reply, entering behind her.

"NINA MARTIN!" I screamed as I pounced on her, bringing us both onto the floor. I squeezed her into a lung restricting hug while we both laughed our heads off.

"AMBER! I've missed you so much!" She said through fits of laughter, hugging me back.

I released her and stood up, brushing the dirt off my mini skirt.

"Don't I get a hug?" Fabian asked, giving me a puppy dog pout.

I hugged him quickly and then messed up his hair with my hand. "There! So why did you two show up together?"

Nina and Fabian started blushing profusely.

"Well, Fabian invited me to spend the last month of summer with his family." Nina mumbled while Fabian took her hand and kissed her cheek.

"Aww! You two are too cute!" I said, smiling and taking out my camera. I snapped a photo of them before they could protest.

"Are we the last ones here?" Nina asked, looking around as if everyone would pop out of their rooms for a head count.

"No, we're still waiting for Mick and Alfie. Joy's not coming back." I said, catching Nina's eye when I said the part about Joy. She looked a little relieved. She didn't hate Joy but I think she was a little jealous of Joy and Fabian's friendship. I don't see why she's so jealous though, I told her they were never in a romantic relationship.

"Well, I'm going to bring my stuff up to our room." Nina said, releasing Fabian's hand and grabbing her suitcases.

"I should go unpack." Fabian smiled at Nina, picked up his bags, and went down the hallway to his room.

I went back to my armchair and picked up a magazine from the coffee table. It looked somewhat interesting because it had an article on Victoria Beckham.

"Where is everyone?" A voice asked from the foyer.

I ran out of the living room and found Mick standing in a soaked grey sweatshirt and jeans. He was lugging a rolling suitcase behind him and a duffel bag over his shoulder.

"Mick!" I squealed and gave him a hug, taking in his scent. He's always smelt incredible.

Mick wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed me a little.

"I missed you." He whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine.

"I missed you too." I stood on my tippy toes to whisper this in his ear.

I pulled away from the hug and blushed a little.

All I could think was that if I'm crushing on Mick again, this is going to be a long year.

Alfie will arrive in the next chapter (: What do you guys think of the pairings so far? Review! I enjoy feedback (:

~Love