I don't own House of Anubis (obviously).
The music blares in the room full of dancing people. We didn't even know most of them, but Amber insisted on having a huge party for her sixteenth birthday. So naturally, the whole school was invited and Amber's dad paid the school to allow a birthday bash in the gymnasium. Everyone groups up with their best friends, somehow managing to scream loud enough to be heard over the music. I spot some of the other students from Anubis house grouped together in the center of the room. Jerome and Alfie seem to be doing a dance that resembles milking a cow while Amber sends Mara and Joy to add more sparkles to her birthday throne.
Even with the complete chaos, a suffocating silence falls over me. Fabian breaks away from the group to grab some orange punch (Amber nearly cried when it wasn't pink), which happens to be about five feet away from where I'm standing. I force myself not to look at him, but we're both aware of the other's presence. We've been avoiding each other for weeks, ever since I walked in on him and Joy kissing. Of course, he wasn't actually my boyfriend at the time, but I had been hoping that would change. Obviously, I was wrong.
Amber sees me avoiding his gaze and closes in for the attack. "Why won't you just talk to him? Are you really going to make me work my magic on my sixteenth birthday?" She gives me a puppy dog look, and I'm forced to give in even though I only heard half of her words.
I let out an exasperated sigh, striding towards him. I already know he won't be able to hear my voice over the music and all the people in the room, so I grab his wrist and pull him outside before he can even attempt to protest.
"Look," I say. "If we keep avoiding each other, who knows if we'll ever be friends again?" I take a deep breath before continuing. "When I saw you and Joy kissing, you told me I didn't understand what happened. Well, now's your chance to explain."
He stutters for a moment, but I know it's only because I caught him off guard. When he can finally gather his thoughts, he gives me a way better explanation than I was expecting. "Joy was apologizing for trying to come between us - well, even though we weren't actually in a relationship. I didn't expect her to give up that easily, and it turns out I was right because she said if I just kissed her once, she wouldn't try to flirt with me anymore. After I made her promise not to tell anyone, I agreed, hoping she would finally back off. And, well...you know the rest."
As I realize what he just told me, I hope he isn't mad at me for not listening to him sooner. "So...you didn't want to kiss her?"
"No, of course not. Joy's just my friend, and that's all she'll ever be. Actually Nina, I was wondering if maybe - you and me - we could...um..." He clears his throat, but I already know what he's trying to say. I smile at him and lean in to kiss him. I can see the look of pure happiness on his face as soon as he realizes what I'm doing. He leans in to meet me halfway, and then-
"Eeee!" We jump apart and see Amber jumping up and down in excitement. "This means I get to continue the Fabina scrapbook!"
