Let me tell you,

I will be there when you're in need,

it's you I'll see. -

Brad Kavanagh

Nina was gone. And no matter what I did, I couldn't bring her back. Every day, I'd wake up, expecting to see her downstairs at breakfast. Every day, I was disappointed when I realized that she's not here.

"Fabian, come on, we've got to go to class." Amber said, annoyed by my moping. Recently, I hadn't been into anything but the mystery. And the only reason I was solving the mystery was because Nina would want me to.

"Right, I'm coming Ambs." I muttered absentmindedly, grabbing my school bag and a muffin. I pulled my blazer over my favorite sweater and headed out the door into the freezing air.

If Nina was here, I would be warm. She would be next to me. I thought sadly. Tears threatened to spill out of my eyes, but I held them back. Man up, Fabian. I told myself. Kinda difficult when the love of your life is thousands of miles away and you're here. In the middle of nowhere. Without her.

"So, I was thinking of taking you and Alfie shopping with me and Willow later, and we could go get pizza and a movie after ..." Amber rambled.

"Yeah, sounds good." I told her.

"Really? Awesome! You're finally getting better at being social again!" she squealed. I nodded, rolling my eyes at the same time.

We shuffled into class, and everyone was already there. Miss Denby smiled at me, she knew what was going on.

"Hey baby." Alfie shouted to Amber. She smiled like a lovestruck idiot and pranced to her seat beside Alfie. I took mine beside Patricia. Ever since Patricia and Eddie broke up and Nina hadn't come back, I'd been hanging out with her.

"Nothing on Nina?" she asked me quietly when Miss Denby had turned to the board. I had been messaging Nina earlier, but she never messaged back.

"No, but I'll try after class." I told her. Patricia nodded and turned back to her work.

LINE BREAK

After class, we headed over to the student lounge, taking our places on the couch. I pulled out my laptop and immediately went over to Nina's profile.

Hey Neens, what's up? Send. Minutes later, she responded.

"She's messaged me!" I shouted.

"What does it say?" Patricia shouted back, stealing my laptop from me.

Nothing, really. I miss you guys. Especially you, Fabian. I smiled at her message, and Patricia faked a barf.

I miss you too. You'll come back though, right? I sent.

Minutes passed and she didn't reply. I shook my head sadly and headed to the next class.

Walking back to the house after school ended felt like slow motion. I would pass by happy couples holding hands or kissing, and it would make the already gaping hole in my heart even wider. Why was Nina gone? The burning question meant everything to me. I understood that she and Eddie needed to be apart because of their connections, but I didn't understand why that was. The letter explained it all: why she was gone, if she would ever come back, and she told me she loved me. I found a shady tree to sit under and buried myself in my thoughts, taking out my laptop and trying to get through to Nina. She didn't answer, and that made me nervous.

"Fabian? Fabian? Fabian!" I looked up to see a girl I didn't recognize shouting at me.

"Er, can I help you?" I asked her nicely.

"No, can I help you? Are you okay?" the girl wondered aloud. She had long, wavy ginger hair, bright blue eyes, and a friendly smile. But she wasn't Nina.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine, um ..." I answered, wondering what her name was.

"Right, I'm Lanie." she told me.

"Fabian." I replied, holding out a hand for her to shake.

"I knew that." Lanie laughed, shaking my hand lightly.

"Yeah, I know." I laughed too. It was nice to laugh, honestly.

"So, what's been getting you down lately? I see you in the halls, you never have a smile on your face any more." Lanie asked. She was a little weird, but it was so nice to have someone ask me what was wrong that I didn't care.

"My girlfriend, Nina. She's American, and she hasn't come back for this year. I mean, I know why, but I just miss her, you know?" The red head nodded.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. My boyfriend moved to New Zealand last year. I haven't heard from him since." Lanie spilled sadly.

"Sorry." I said sympathetically. She shrugged.

"Just have to get used to it, I guess."

"I'm not going to. I need her back."

"Then I'm sure you'll find a way." the girl smiled, patted me on the back, and walked to Isis House. I nodded.

I will. I will bring you back here, Nina. I promise. I silently promised her my help, and got up, running half-heartedly to Anubis House.

LINE BREAK

Patricia was waiting for me when I returned to the house.

"What's up?" I asked her.

"I have something I need to show you!" she told me excitedly.

"Er, okay, just let me put my stuff down." I muttered, about to head into the common room.

"Nope, this can't wait!" the goth yelled, dragging me and making me drop my stuff.

"Alright, fine, I'm coming." I laughed, and she let go of my arm. I followed her upstairs, into Amber and Mara's room.

"Look what I found under Mara's mattress!" Patricia smiled, excitement dancing in her eyes.

When I saw what she had pulled out, I gasped.

Don't you know that I'll

never run from you,

you can always count on me?

Okay guys! That's it for today! What's in Patricia's hand? What did Nina leave behind, and how is it going to help Fabian bring her back? Guess you'll have to wait for the next chapter! Don't worry, it will be up soon, I promise. Thanks for reading, please review! - Sydney