Without You

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I don't own anything; I am merely an obsessed fan with ideas stuck in my head.

"So, what's the plan?" Amber asked Nina as they walked into the dining room, just arriving back from dentition. Jerome had bolted from the classroom as soon as Mrs. Andrews said that could leave, while Nina and Amber took their time; they had nowhere to be. The other seven Anubis members were too preoccupied with their food and conversations to notice their arrival. Jerome and Alfie were having their daily food fight—"Take that, Alien Obsesser!"—while Patricia was arguing with the new American, Eddie, and Joy and Fabian were sitting at the end of the table, their heads bent down towards each other. Nina was sure they were whispering, but she could be wrong.

"Nina, did you hear me?" Amber asked as they sat down in their usual seats.

"Huh?" Nina blurted, snapping out of her trance on Fabian. He was currently cracking up over something Joy had said.

Amber huffed, "I asked you what your plan was."

"Plan for what?" Nina asked, not following what Amber was saying.

"You know; getting Fabian back!" Amber reminded her, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh, right," Nina said in monotone. "Wait," she said, giving Amber a weird look, "I never told you I was trying to get Fabian back..."

Amber gave Nina a knowing smile, "I know. But it was so obvious the way you were looking at him in Mrs. Andrew's class today."

Nina grew worried, "Is it really that obvious?" She reached out and gripped Amber's arm. "Do you think he knows?"

Amber patted Nina's arm comfortingly, "Relax, Neens. I was only able to figure out because I'm a girl. We're trained this way."

Nina breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew, you really had me freaking out there, Ambs."

Amber's light blue eyes traveled over to Fabian. "I don't know what he sees in her."

Nina followed her gaze and frowned. "Me either."

Amber rolled her eyes. "She's just too obsessive over him, if you ask me."

Nina nodded her head in agreement, "Yeah she is. Way too obsessive." Nina watched Fabian sadly, as he and Joy joked and talked together. Just like she and Fabian used to do. Instead, it was Joy who was causing that beautiful smile to spread across Fabian's face. The pain was unbearable; it felt like someone was stabbing her right in the heart.

"That used to be me," Nina whispered. "That should be me." She couldn't take it anymore. She slammed her fork down on the table and abruptly stood.

Everyone's eyes were on her, looking at her like she wasn't supposed to be there. Nina was usually so easy-going, but if they knew what was causing her moods, they would understand.

Jerome and Alfie had even ceased there food fight, which was rare; they never stopped until Victor threatened to make them clean the toilets with a toothbrush. Jerome smirked, and chucked a roll at Nina's face. It bounced off her forehead with a thud, and landed in the salad bowl. The seven other Anubis members gaped at the scene-no one had harassed Nina during dinner since her first day.

Nina closed her eyes, praying for her sanity to last until she was out of the room. She clenched her fists and gave Jerome the most hatred look she could muster.

"Was that really necessary?" She asked through gritted teeth.

Jerome held up his hands in surrender and grinned evilly at Nina, "Hey, this is just your payback."

Nina through up her hands in desperation. "For what?" She half-shouted.

"For getting me a dentition."

Eddie eyed Jerome was a dramatic shocked face. "Wow, and I thought the British were supposed to have better manners."

"Yeah, well some of them still have the common sense of a two year old," Patricia said, staring coldly at Jerome. Some chuckled at Patricia's comment, while other's just rolled their eyes.

"I'm guessing that would be Jerome." Alfie asked. Everyone gave him an 'are you kidding me look?' look.

"Seriously, Alfie?" Amber snapped, "Even I could figure that out...and I'm a blonde!"

Alfie huffed, "Sorry, I was just making sure we were talking about Jerome," he defended.

"Who else would we be talking about...Nina?" Eddie asked. His eyes traveled over to the standing girl with curly hair and scanned her up and down, "though I probably wouldn't put her on the immature list..." He winked at Nina, and she couldn't help but blush slightly. She shifted her gaze over to Fabian, and for a split second, she saw his jaw stiffen as he stared at Eddie. But when she blinked and looked again, it was gone.

"Ew," Patricia said, making a fake-gagging noise, "You are so perverted."

Eddie rolled his eyes, "Oh, really? What did I do that's so 'perverted'-"

"Everything about you is perverted!" Patricia interrupted, slamming her hands against the table. Soon, everyone was arguing, while Nina just stood still and watched. What had gotten into everyone? What happened to the fun, dinnertime that was filled with jokes and laughs?

"Why is everyone getting so annoyed with each other?" Mara complained, "Let's all just calm down." But no one was listening.

"C'mon, let's just go," Nina said quietly to Amber. She nodded quickly and the two girls slipped out of the room and up the stairs to their room."

As soon as Nina flung the door open, she raced over to her bed and threw herself onto it, covering her face with her pillow. Amber watched her sympathetically, and walked over to her mirror, examine her appearance.

"Jerome is an idiot," Amber announced, "Don't listen to a thing he says, along with that Eddie guy." She raised her eyebrows slightly and shuddered, "He gives me the willies, no matter how cute he might be."

Nina didn't respond.

Amber inwardly sighed, and turned to Nina, her eyes filled with sympathy and understandment. "Look, I know I'm not the smartest girl in the world," she began, "but I'm definitely a genius when it comes to love, and Joy and Fabian have no chance." She smiled at Nina, a comforting smile that made Nina feel positive. "He likes you, Neens. You need to get him back!"

Nina sighed deeply, looking up at Amber. "I know, I know. I just don't know what to do! Joy's literally attached to him 24/7, and he's practically abandoned us from Sibuna." She gave Amber a pleading look. "I need him back. I'm so...lost without him. Like I'm not complete! I'm tired of pretending like I'm fine with being just friend's, when I'm not!" Nina bit her lip, swallowing a sob, and blinked back the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

"And if I don't…what if Senkhara takes him away! I can't let her take him away!" Nina couldn't fight it anymore; it was like a wall inside of her had broken down, letting all over her sadness and stress escape. Tears dripped down her cheeks like a waterfall, her body shaking with every sob that came out of her.

"Nina, Nina!" Amber scurried over to her, rubbing her back in slow circles. "It's okay; I'll help you," Amber whispered soothingly.

Nina lifted her head up, her eyes slightly red from crying. "You will?"

Amber chuckled, "Of course I will! No one knows how to get a guy better than Amber Millington!" She did a little twirl, and flashed a smile at Nina.

Nina raised her eyebrows. "How's everything going with Alfie?"

Amber's smile dropped a bit, and an uncertain look came upon her face. "Well, uh...it's too complicated."

Nina put on a sarcastic smile. "Of course it complicated. Everything around here is just too complicated," she muttered.

Amber ignored Nina, and began to speak, "Okay, so since the ball for the opening of the expedition is tomorrow, I was thinking we could try and make you look super gorgeous—" Nina shot her a death glare.

A nervous look spread across Amber's face, "N—Not that you aren't super gorgeous any other day, but trust me, Neens." She spun around once again, and flipped her hair, "It takes skill and time to look this great every day."

Nina half-grinned and rolled her eyes. "Go on..." She encouraged.

"Right, as I was saying, when you walk into the ball, Fabian will see how beautiful you look and he will realize that you're the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with. And you'll live happily ever after," Amber finished, and beamed at Nina. "Go on; say it! I'm a genius!"

Nina stood up. "Um, Amber," She said quietly.

"What?" Amber asked, her light blue orbs wide and alert.

"Um...you do realize that this is real life, not Cinderella. I can't just walk in looking like a princess and expect Fabian to fall for me, like it's that easy."

Amber looked like she wasn't following. "But Nina; it is that easy! C'mon, it's Fabian we're talking about here!"

Nina huffed, trying not to lose her patience. "No, Amber. It's not! It takes more to win a guy over then just beauty."

"Huh, really?" Amber asked. "Well...this is going to be a little trickier than I thought..."

Nina looked on the verge of tears again. She sat down at the edge of her bed, and ran her fingers through her curls. "Great...just great."

"Don't worry Nina," Amber said, a positive expression on her face. "We'll get you your Fabian back.

Nina held out her pinky. "Promise?"

Amber squealed, "Pinky-promises? I love these—"

"Amber!" Nina cut in. "Just squeeze my pinky with yours."

"Right, sorry," Amber apologized and intertwined her pinky with Nina's.

"I promise I will help Nina Martin win Fabian Rutter's heart," Amber declared. "With more than just beauty," she added quickly.

Nina smiled at her best friend. It was going to be quite the ball...

You better watch out Joy...it's Nina's time...