So I got this idea last night and decided to try it. Basically I'm re-writing season 1 with how I think it would have happened had Eddie been there. At this point it's basically me writing what happens in each episode (I'm re-watching them as I go) but soon enough I'll be completely off book. Hope you enjoy and review with what you think or any suggestions about other if-then stories I should write.
Chapter 1
House of Secrets
I watched as the train vanished from sight and knew that with it went my last chance to return home to everything I knew and loved. Don't be ridiculous, Nina. You don't want to go home. It was true; here was the exact place I'd always dreamed of being. Still, you know that feeling when you finally get something you always wanted and now you're scared it won't be what you expected; that's how I felt. It will everything you ever hoped for. I asusured myself. Yet, I could only pray my subconscious was right and this wasn't about to be a disaster.If you hate it you can always transfer back to America I assured would be awkward, but it would be feasible. You won't hate it though. You'll love it so go find your taxi.
After my own personal pep talk I took a deep breath and went around back to where I hoped the taxi would be waiting. "Nina Martin?" Though I knew that British people had British accents, it was still so weird to hear them in person and know that would be all I'd hear for months.
"Yes! That's me!" I cried excited. As nervous as I was this truly was what I wanted. I was here, in England, going to boarding school. This would turn out great. This had to turn out great.
"Oh you're American then?" the driver asked. I'd hear that British people were less friendly to strangers, but this man seemed nice enough. Nicer than most taxi drivers I'd ever met at least.
"Yeah, how'd you know. Was it the accent?" I questioned in reply. As much as I knew I couldn't blend in, being known as the American surely wouldn't be fun.
"No, the big American flag on your suitcase," he replied with a chuckle. As flames grew up my cheeks I looked down at the sticker, mumbled a few words of nonsense, and pulled it right off.
"Well, jump in love," he told me cheerfully. I felt a wave of confusion for a moment when he pulled into the passenger seat, before I remembered I'd be driving on the opposite side of the road from now on. Man there were a lot of things to get used to.
The ride didn't take long, and I filled it with idle chit-chat until my phone rang and I saw a message from gram.
"Is that your parents checking up on you?" the driver assumed and unknowingly sent a wave of depression over me. Sure, I loved Gran, but sometimes I just wished I remembered my parents and that they'd lived to come and check up on me. Nothing you can do about it though. So chin up and remember this will be great.
When the driver asked if he should turn around after I explained my story, I instantly knew that was not what I wanted at all. "No way." No way was I going home, not when I was this chose to what I'd always wanted.
Soon enough we pulled into the school and a sense of cool awe settled over me. I'd seen enough pictures to know that Frobisher Academy was grand, but never had I imagined this.
"It's a big place," he could say that again. "Where'd you need to be?"
Checking quickly I repeated what the papers said, "it says here I'm in the House of Anubis."
As we parked I saw a few students staring, but that was only to be expected. After all term started two weeks ago and I was the weird new Sophomore. Still, the school itself was so amazing I didn't even bother to think of my peers reactions. "Wow. Welcome to Hogwarts." Turning I noticed my driver had already set off in the opposite direction. "Hey! Wait up!"
I should have known better than to run, because quickly enough I ran into one of the girls I'd seen before. "I'm so sorry!" I cried before dashing off to pay the cabbie. Once he'd left I turned and faced my new boarding house.
If the school was amazing the house was something else entirely. Vines grew up and down the sides while a stone tablet indicated that I was in the right place. One look and I knew I'd made the right choice. This was where I belonged.
"You just going to stand there blocking my path or are you going to go inside?" Startled, I spun around and saw a blonde bad-boy leather jacket and all standing there looking annoyed. Still, something told me he wasn't really mad at me. He seemed to want to be at this school about as much as I didn't want to be at this school. (And I really wanted to be at this school.)
"Sorry, do you live here? I'm Nina Martin."
The boy lifted his head like someone had just answered his most desperate prayer. "Thank God another American. At least I'll be able to understand what someone's saying." I hadn't noticed it before, but when he mentioned it this boy seemed to be from the states like me. Huh. I thought I was the only international student. Guess I was wrong then. "I'm Eddie Miller by the way," he told me with an extended hand. Just his tone told me that this kid thought I was another girl to be woed, but I took his hand anyway. Now was not the time to be making enemies of my housemates no matter how self assured.
The moment our skin touched the doors to the house sprung open despite the obvious lack of wind. "Okay, does that normally happen?" Eddie asked peering inside to the ancient house.
"Wouldn't know. Today is my first day too," or I'd assume this kid was new since he had A-no uniform and B-a suitcase. "Maybe they're just motion censored or something."
"Yeah… maybe," Eddie decided all interest suddenly lost. "Say I'm supposed to see this guy Victor. You wouldn't happen to know where he was, right?"
I only shrugged, "Like I said. I'm new too. I probably have to see him too why don't we go inside and look?"
"No need, I bet that's him there," Eddie suggested pointing to the greasy haired man who was giving us the stink eye.
"Isn't the bell working?" he asked gruffly.
"Um no," Eddie told him with a creased eyebrow. "The doors opened themselves so we were just going to come in."
Victor huffed before stepping aside to let us in. "Just two more miscreants," he muttered. "You're late," he said interrupting me from my thoughts about the gorgeous grand foyer. "Two weeks late."
I moved to explain how the scholarship hadn't gone through originally, but Eddie spoke first. "Well, considering both Americans got here late maybe you should consider your International message delivery system."
I took my first breath as Victor redirected his glare from me to Eddie. "I will not tolerate back talk boy, not even from you." Wait what? Why did Victor make it sound like Eddie was special or something?
Eddie didn't say anything else, but he also didn't even attempt to hide the roll of his eyes. Victor too seemed like he wasn't done berating us, but a sweet voice interrupted him before he could.
"Victor Rodenmaar. I hope you're giving our new guests the warmest of welcomes." She winked at me, "Well, as warm as he gets anyway. Hello Sweeties!" the kindly women told us as she wrapped a warm hand around Eddie and my arms. "I'm Trudy, your new house mother. Welcome to Anubis house." Clearly Trudy knew Eddie wouldn't care for her jokes, because she only whispered to me, "It's only spookier than the brochure."
Victor seemed unamused by her banter, and quickly began pacing again, "The Anubis Estate was originally built in 1890 although it wasn't actually named Anubis until 1922."
"He would know," Eddie whispered to me behind the caretaker's back. "He looks old enough to have been there."
"I can hear you Mr. Miller," Victor scolded. "One more peep and you will have a detention. I don't care how short of a time you've been in this country I do not tolerate rudeness."
"Oh Victor be kind," Trudy scolded with as much malice as I imagine she could muster. It seemed Trudy was sweet on Victor (not that he'd know). "Why don't I give you two a tour?" Trudy suggested.
As we followed her into the common room a gorgeous painting that hung on the wall caught my eye. "Mr. and Mrs. Frobisher-Smythe," Victor informed me. "the original inhabitants." Moving closer to the picture Victor didn't look me in the eye as he spoke. "They died. Very tragically."
"Well let's just hope the house isn't haunted then," Eddie, who was already eyeing the kitchen, noted. I didn't believe in ghosts, only a fool would, but looking at the picture I could imagine the couple's ghosts being trapped to a house as old as this.
"Why don't I show you where you'll be sleeping," Trudy suggested in an attempt to keep everything upbeat.
"Is Miss Martin's ready?" Victor asked quickly.
"Yes they've cleared it,"Trudy assured and I could only wonder what they cleared it of. Surely, a student hadn't only attended for a whole two weeks?
"You Mr. Miller will be sharing a triple with Fabian Rutter and Mick Campbell," Victor told him pointing to the far room downstairs. Taking that as his leave, Eddie grabbed his suitcase from the main hall and disappeared into the room. "We don't want anyone wandering around after nine o'clock," Victor said loud enough for Eddie to hear through the door. "And all lights must be out by 10." As we went upstairs Victor pointed to the open glass office, "This is my room which needless to say is strictly out of bounds."
Leaving Victor behind in his office to drop off a file of sorts he held in his hands, Trudy brought me farther down the hall. "What's up there?" I wondered pointing to the door at the end of the long hallway. Something about the room screamed danger and mystery, which meant it was most likely out of bounds a fact Victor quickly confirmed.
"That is the attic and going up there or down into the cellar will result in harsh punishment, Is that understood?"
"Crystal clear," I promised. It seemed like Eddie who'd need to be reminded of the rules much more than me. I'm definitely the play it safe type. No amount of curiosity would lead me to get in trouble before my bed at home was even cold.
"This is your room in here," Trudy told me opening the door to a spacious room that was already half covered in posters and unhung clothes.
"Who's that?" I wondered picking up the picture of two smiling girls I'd seen outside.
"Oh that's Joy," Trudy told me just as Victor crumbled the photo.
"Joy has left," he told me firmly.
"Rather unexpectedly if I may say," Trudy looked like she'd miss the girl and I instantly felt bad for taking her place. Still it wasn't like it was my fault.
"You shall not," Victor told her malice clear in his voice as he tossed out the picture. "Your trunks have arrived I shall leave you to unpack."
Glad to be finally alone I began making my side of the room my own and was just about done when the other girl from the picture of Joy burst in the room, "Joy…" Noticing that I wasn't her friend she began to freak out. "Who are you?" She spit at me.
"I'm Nina," I told her trying to be as friendly as possible, "I'm new and American, obviously…"
"Who cares," she snapped. "Where are Joy's things? What's going on?" Didn't this girl know her friend had left? Surely the girl had told someone and hadn't just left me to pick up the pieces. I was about to say something when the girl saw the picture Victor had thrown in the trash," Did you do this?" she growled as I tried to explain.
"No I just got here," I told her but the angry girl had already grabbed my bedding and thrown it out the door. "Please stop, Victor told me that Joy had left!"
Patricia didn't believe it as she pulled a phone from beneath the bed. "Without this? This is her phone. Did you steal it?" she accused.
Flustered I told her no, but she didn't listen and continued to yell. "What on earth is going on up here?" Eddie asked looking between Patricia and I. "Who are you?"
"Who are you?" She spit back temper flaring. "What's with the sudden inundation of Americans? Let me guess you kidnapped Fabian and took his spot just like she did with Joy!"
I didn't know who Fabian was, and neither did Eddie, but one look between us said it all. This mad girl, whoever she was, would forever hate us.
Wow, that's long and pretty poorly written. Hopefully, when i can take more liberties, it will get better and easier to do. So please review with any suggestions or thoughts!